Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said yesterday that he will fly to Timor-Leste again to follow up on the extradition of former Negros Oriental Third District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr.

This comes as the High Court of Timor-Leste has yet to rule on Teves’ appeal to prevent his extradition to the Philippines.

Remulla said the appeal process in Timor-Leste seems to be prolonged, but he received assurances that news on the matter would come soon.

However, Remulla said he will return to speak with the leadership again.

The DoJ chief assured that the former congressman remains in Timor-Leste, even though he is no longer detained there.

To recall, Remulla traveled to Timor-Leste in October last year and met with President Jose Ramos-Horta.

“I spoke with Mr. Ramos-Horta, the president, and he wanted to learn from us how the justice system should be run because it’s something that is so important now to Timor-Leste,” Remulla said.

He cited that Timor-Leste “has a very young judicial system.”

Aside from the Teves issue, Remulla said he and President Ramos-Horta talked about matters concerning national security, international cooperation, and sensitive diplomatic exchanges.

The expelled congressman was designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council in 2023 and is facing multiple criminal charges, including those related to the 4 March 2023, shootings in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, where provincial governor Roel Degamo and nine others died.