Teves may return to Philippines today – Remulla

MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is expected to land in the country today, the same day that multiple murder and frustrated murder charges are expected to be filed against him, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Remulla said that he was told by “a very reliable source who may have access to flight data into the country” that Teves has booked a flight home, presumably from Timor Leste, where his asylum application was denied last week.

“He’s coming back because it’s difficult to go around the world now when he’s already on Interpol notice and it’s already known in the ASEAN that he’s a subject of designation as a terrorist… so, things have become more difficult, I suppose,” Remulla said yesterday.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is expected to file today, at noon, the multiple murder and frustrated murder complaints against Teves concerning the deadly March 4 attack that killed governor Roel Degamo and nine others.

“It means he can answer the process of law if a case is filed against him tomorrow then it can be immediately served to him so that (things) can run accordingly and the cases can be resolved by the panel of prosecutors based on his counter-affidavit,” Remulla said.

While no arrest warrants have been issued against Teves, Remulla said the Philippine National Police had been alerted of the developments from the lawmaker’s end and are expected to “secure” Teves upon arrival in an undisclosed airport.

“PNP is on alert already so that he can be secured and nothing can be said about his life being in danger because we don’t want anything to happen to him. We want the charges to be filed properly and the timing is perfect. The charges will be filed tomorrow, there will be no waste of time,” he added.

Teves has not returned home since charges were filed against him over weapons found in his properties and since he was tagged as the mastermind of the deadly March 4 attack.

The DOJ has since sought his designation as a terrorist to force him home. An Interpol notice has also been issued against him, allowing Philippine authorities to be informed of his every move by countries that the lawmaker visits.

Asked whether Remulla’s information about the lawmaker’s return was true, Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio refused to comment.