Philippine justice officials announced on Friday that a former Filipino congressman, who has been accused of orchestrating the murders of a provincial governor and multiple individuals, was apprehended while enjoying a game of golf in East Timor. The arrest marks a significant development in this high-profile case, as the suspect will now face deportation back to the Philippines to stand trial for the alleged crimes.
Arnolfo Teves Jr. was apprehended by the police at the Top Golf Driving Range and Bar in Dili, the capital of East Timor. He had attempted to seek asylum there. The Philippine Department of Justice confirmed his arrest, stating that it had been sought through an Interpol red notice which requested the assistance of law enforcement agencies worldwide in locating and apprehending him.
Teves is currently being charged with murder for his alleged involvement in the killings of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight other individuals. These tragic events took place in March of last year, when several people, including those seeking assistance at Teves’ residence in Pamplona town, lost their lives. Additionally, the attack resulted in injuries to at least 17 others, including a doctor and two army soldiers, as reported by the police at that time.
Janice Degamo, the widow of Degamo and also the mayor of Pamplona municipality in Negros Oriental, took to Facebook to express her satisfaction with the arrest. She shared a drone video capturing the moment Teves was apprehended at the golf range.
“He has shown a complete disregard for our law enforcement agencies by being arrested at a luxurious golf course abroad,” she expressed. “Even with all his wealth and influence, he ultimately cannot evade justice.”
A group of at least six men, armed with assault rifles and dressed in military camouflage and bullet-resistant vests, entered Degamo’s residential compound in a calm manner. The entire attack, which was captured on security cameras, involved the assailants opening fire. Following the incident, the shooters quickly fled the scene in three SUVs.
Eleven individuals were apprehended in connection with the assault that took place in the sugarcane-growing heartland of the Philippines. Regrettably, one suspect lost their life in a shoot-out during the incident.
Teves, without providing any further details, firmly denied any role in the murder of Degamo and the other individuals. He claimed that he was framed, although he did not expand on this allegation.
The killings have brought renewed attention to the country’s violent political conflicts, which have been made worse by the presence of private armies and a high number of illegal firearms, particularly in rural areas.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claimed at the time that the assault on Degamo, a supporter of his presidential campaign, had purely political motives.
Marcos praised the Philippine law enforcement agencies and their international counterparts for successfully apprehending Teves.
In a statement, Marcos assured the Filipino people that they would spare no effort in ensuring justice prevails in this case. They vowed to take all necessary actions to bring the accused back to the country, enabling them to face the charges filed against them.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla commended the arrest of Teves, stating that it demonstrates the effectiveness of international collaboration. In a statement, he emphasized that this apprehension sends a strong message that no terrorist can escape justice and that countries are united in their commitment to protecting the safety and security of their people.
Teves was urged by Remulla to undergo trial without any conditions and to confront the courts head-on.
Teves has been implicated in the killings of three people in 2019 in Negros Oriental. Additionally, he has violated the country’s gun and explosives law as authorities discovered assault weapons and ammunition in his family’s residential compound.
Marcos inherited some daunting problems, including crimes and decades-long Muslim and communist insurgencies.
In 2009, one of the most devastating instances of political violence in the country occurred when a group of nearly 200 armed followers, led by members of a prominent political clan, obstructed a rival political family’s convoy in the southern province of Maguindanao just before the local elections.
Nearly a decade later, key members of the Ampatuan family were finally convicted by a court for their involvement in the attack. However, it is important to note that many suspects in the incident still remain at large.
