The father of sacked Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., Arnolfo Teves Sr., passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 77.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel of Teves Jr. who is currently in Timor-Leste fighting his extradition to the Philippines, said: “It gravely adds to the sadness of Representative Teves and his household, his mother, siblings, and all their relatives that his father passed away on the eve of Christmas, which is a day meant for celebration and joy.”

Topacio said Teves was overwhelmed with grief, especially since he cannot pay his last respects to his father.

“The hardest thing for Representative Teves is that he is away and cannot go home to embrace and pay his last respects and goodbye to his father due to the baseless and relentless persecution and pressure from the current administration because of politics and personal interests,” he added.

The Department of Justice earlier announced that Timor-Leste had ruled in favor of Manila’s extradition request for the second time.

“We expected no less,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla had said.

“This second grant of extradition reaffirms that our government’s request is justified and that Timor-Leste’s first decision was the right one,” Remulla said.

The procedural objections from Teves’s legal team prompted the second round of hearings.

Remulla said the objections came after Teves willingly participated in the proceedings but later challenged the process when the ruling did not favor him.

Teves Jr. has been fighting his extradition to the Philippines over charges linking him to the murder of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and several others in March 2023.