(UPDATE) THE Court of Appeal of East Timor has denied the Philippine government's request to extradite former congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr., citing the risk of torture and other human rights violations when he returns home.
THE Court of Appeal of East Timor has denied the Philippine government's request to extradite former congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr., citing the risk of torture and other human rights violations when he returns home.
In a unanimous decision, the Plenary of Judges ruled that Teves' appeal against extradition be granted, overturning a previous ruling. The court based its decision on Article 35 of East Timor's constitution, which prohibits extradition in cases where the individual faces a well-founded risk of being subjected to torture, inhuman, degrading, or cruel treatment. Teves, who has been accused of masterminding multiple murders in the Philippines, was classified as a terrorist and a member of an armed terrorist group by the Anti-Terrorism Council. However, the court found significant grounds to question the fairness of the proceedings against him, citing recantations from key witnesses and allegations of coercion. One of the most critical pieces of evidence considered by the court was the affidavit of Hanna Mae Oray Sumerano, Teves' secretary, who claimed she had been detained without a valid arrest warrant and subjected to physical and psychological threats, including having a gun pointed at her. The intervention of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights reportedly ended her ordeal. Additionally, multiple witnesses and co-defendants, including Gemuel Hobro, Alma Libron, Rogelio Antipolo, Joven Javuer, Daniel Pajarillo, and Romuel Pataguan, signed affidavits in June 2023 retracting their previous testimonies. They alleged that their initial statements, in which they implicated Teves, were prepared by police and military personnel and signed under duress due to threats to them and their families. On Thursday, the Department of Justice expressed deep disappointment over the ruling of the Timor-Leste court. The DOJ, which has yet to receive an official copy of the ruling, described the sudden shift as 'peculiar' and vowed to seek clarification. 'We reiterate our firm request for cooperation in this matter,' the DOJ said in a statement. 'Mr. Teves is facing serious charges, including multiple counts of murder, and must be brought home to face the full force of the law. Allowing him to evade justice would be the height of injustice, not only to the victims and their families but to the integrity of the rule of law.' Teves, who has been accused of ordering the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March 2023, fled the country last year and sought refuge in Timor-Leste. The DOJ said the case goes beyond legal technicalities and is fundamentally about justice. The Philippine government reaffirmed its commitment to hold Teves accountable and called on international authorities to uphold cooperation in legal matters. 'The government will not stop. We will explore and exhaust all legal remedies available to us to ensure that justice is served,' the DOJ said. It assured the public that it will provide updates as soon as it receives the official ruling.
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