Timor-Leste rejects asylum plea of Negros Oriental lawmaker accused of assassination

Timor-Leste has denied the asylum request of Arnie Teves, a Negros Oriental lawmaker who has been on the run since February after being accused of masterminding the assassination of incumbent Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed the decision of the Ministry of Interior of Timor-Leste, leaving Teves with five days to leave the country.

Teves visited the US, Cambodia, and South Korea while being investigated but declined to go back to the Philippines out of fear for his safety. But according to sources, he was allegedly implicated in the murder of Governor Degamo, which left 10 people dead and one victim who succumbed to their wounds two months later.

Secretary Boying Remulla accused Teves of funding and planning the attack and is pushing for the expedited submission of murder complaints against him. Although Teves has denied any connection to the assassination, he remains wanted for separate murder complaints filed in 2019 for killings in Negros Oriental province.

Teves' request for refuge was denied, leaving him in a difficult position with few alternatives for what to do next. Although he has the right to appeal the ruling, he must depart the country by the deadline. His extradition is anticipated by the Philippine government so that he can answer for the murder charges brought against him.

Teves' case highlights the complexities of seeking asylum in foreign countries and the consequences of evading accountability for serious crimes. As the legal process unfolds, the families of the victims continue to seek justice for their loved ones.