Ex-Philippine lawmaker’s arrest in East Timor seen as linked to Asean membership

Arnolfo Teves Jnr, who was arrested at his home in Dili, is wanted in the Philippines on charges of murder and attempted murder

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Arnolfo Teves Jnr, a former Philippine lawmaker, is wanted by Manila on charges of murder and attempted murder. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:30pm, 28 May 2025

A former Philippine lawmaker who is accused of orchestrating a political assassination has been arrested in East Timor, in a move that analysts say is a sign of Dili’s desire to resolve an extradition dispute with Manila ahead of its expected entry into Asean.

Arnolfo Teves Jnr was apprehended in Dili in a joint operation by East Timorese police and immigration officials at his residence in the capital on Tuesday night, his son confirmed in a post on social media on Wednesday.

Teves, who has been on the run for more than a year, is wanted in the Philippines over the killing of Roel Degamo, then-governor of Negros Oriental, in March 2023. He faces multiple counts of murder and attempted murder.

He left the country days before Degamo’s assassination, citing medical reasons, and later sought political asylum in East Timor. The application was rejected, but Teves remained in the country amid a prolonged legal battle over his extradition.

His lawyer in Dili, José Ximenes, denounced the arrest as unlawful, claiming it had been carried out without a valid warrant. “The arrest carried out by authorities is inhumane and illegal,” Ximenes told local reporters.

The Philippines’ Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday it was ready to arrange Teves’ return “by the most expeditious means” but was awaiting clarity on the matter.

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