MANILA (UPDATED)  — The Department of Justice said Monday that expelled congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. must face allegations against him in the Philippines as his lawyer floated the prospect of seeking UN assistance for what he said was government persecution of his client.

Ginigipit ng gobyerno? Teves camp pinag-aaralang magreklamo sa UNHRC

Teves' legal team will also seek political asylum for him in Timor-Leste, where he was arrested last week by local police.

DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano stressed that the multiple murder, attempted murder, and frustrated murder cases against Teves will have to go through the Philippine justice system.

“We do not recognize or acknowledge any camp that refuses to go through our own justice system,” Clavano said.

Teves faces murder cases over the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March 2023.

Clavano said justice has to be served in the country as the crimes allegedly committed by Teves happened in the Philippines.

“The brutal crimes happened here in the Philippines. The families of the victims are here in the Philippines. So, we want justice to be served here in the Philippines,” Clavano said.

Ferdinand Topacio, Teves' lawyer in the Philippines, said over the weekend that they might go to the UN Commission on Human Rights because of the supposed “persecution” of his client.

He said one of Teves' lawyers in Timor-Leste is an expert in international human rights.

Teves was arrested by Timor-Leste’s Scientific Police for Criminal Investigation in Dili on Thursday while he was playing golf.

 The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued a "Red Notice" for Teves in February. Red Notices are requests for police across the world to locate and provisionally arrest subjects of the notice.

However, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) failed to bring Teves home, noting that Timor-Leste authorities are still evaluating the Interpol request as well as the Philippine government's request for custody of the former lawmaker.

NBI returns to PH without ex-lawmaker Teves

NBI Director Medardo de Lemos admitted that bringing Teves home was difficult. He also refused to answer if Teves has some “influence” in the said country.

“Ayaw kong sagutin nang tuwiran yan kasi babalik tayo doon. Hindi magiging maganda ang position natin. Very factual naman na nahirapam kami doon…  Pero mabilis ang kanilang cooperation naman,” De Lemos said.

Topacio meanwhile denied that Teves has “protectors” in Timor-Leste.

“He is not a fugitive in Timor-Leste, he is an applicant for political asylum. That is why he is openly moving about. Yan ang hindi nila maintindihan at Mr. Teves has committed no violation of any law in Timor Leste,” he said. — With reports from Niko Baua, ABS-CBN News

READ: NBI returns to PH without ex-lawmaker Teves