• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Pamplona Mayor Janice Vallega Degamo, widow of the slain Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, has remained hopeful on the return of former Third District Rep. Arnolfo Teves through extradition, from Timor Leste to the Philippines.
Degamo admitted that she was surprised and confused over the decision of the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals of rejecting the request of the Philippine government to extradite Teves, after previously deciding in its favor twice.
“We can’t help but think that the court in Timor-Leste could be influenced,” Degamo said in her statement posted on social media.
Still, Degamo said she believes that the Philippine government will do its best to succeed in bringing Teves back to the country, “so he can face the charges of multiple murder and frustrated murder against him and his associates, who are currently in Manila court”.
The widow of Degamo also expressed concern that Henry Teves, brother of the former Negros Oriental solon, may also escape to Timor Leste or another country, if a warrant of arrest for murder filed against him by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will also be served.
Henry Teves is running for governor of Negros Oriental while Janice Degamo is a candidate for the third district congressional seat against Janice Teves Gaston, an aunt of Teves siblings.
The former congressman was ousted by the House of Representatives after getting implicated in the Pamplona massacre that killed the then governor inside his residence.
Degamo said she we will try to meet with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to shed light on the reason for the reversal of the decision and to get an update on the government’s next steps.
In a translated copy of the supposed decision shared by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, the counsel of Teves, the Timor-Leste court cited the recantations of several witnesses, who claimed they forced to sign affidavits “pre-prepared by police and military personnel” meant to implicate Teves in the murders with which he was being charged.
The Philippine government sought the extradition of Teves for him to face multiple murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder charges in Manila for the March 4, 2023 assassination of Degamo, along with several others.
Aside from Degamo’s murder, Teves and others have also been charged with the death of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.
The Department of Justice said the Philippine government will explore and exhaust all legal remedies available to bring back Teves to the Philippines to face the charges against him.
“This case is not merely a legal issue; it is a matter of justice. The Philippine government remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring accountability and upholding the principles of due process. We call on all concerned authorities to respect our legal processes and uphold international cooperation in the pursuit of justice,” it said. | GB
