Timor-Leste (TL) did everything by the book, so it is a source of bewilderment to many international observers as to why the Marcos government is throwing the book at Dili over the failed extradition of former Rep. Arnolfo Teves.

When Gov. Roel Degamo of Negros Oriental was gunned down together with nine of his bodyguards and followers, the Justice department lost no time in pointing the finger of blame at Teves.

Barely a week into the investigation, Secretary Boying Remulla said the case was “closed” and tagged Teves — who was then on a trip to the United States for health and business reasons — as the “producer,” his former security aide Marvin Miranda as the “director,” and eight others as the “cast,” likening the assassination to a film production.

Teves, crying “political frame-up,” refused to come home, and was promptly expelled from the House of Representatives. He then landed in Dili in the second week of March 2024, only to be arrested by Dili police on 21 March 2024 on the basis of an Interpol red notice, and incarcerated.

He was subsequently released on the basis of a TL law that sets a maximum period of detention for persons with no criminal cases under TL law. Extradition proceedings were thereafter conducted against him.

Initially, the extradition request was granted by Timor-Leste’s Tribunal de Recursos (Court of Appeals), but Teves’ lawyers challenged the validity of the judgment on due process and procedural grounds.

The plenary of the appellate court avoided the judgment and ordered a trial de novo (new), whereupon a three-man court again granted extradition, with one magistrate dissenting.

Upon appeal to the plenary, however, a panel of judges (three plus the one who dissented from the original decision) on 20 March 2025 unanimously reversed the ruling and denied the repatriation of Teves, citing provisions in the TL Constitution proscribing extradition if there is a “well-founded risk of being subjected to torture, inhuman, degrading or cruel treatment.”

While Manila was expected to be disappointed, its reaction was unexpectedly ballistic. Remulla, previously all praises for the Timor- Leste government after several personal visits to its President Jose Ramos Horta, was livid. He called the Timorese justice system “immature” and its personnel “corrupt.” He then made not-too-subtle threats, saying “it is not going to be pleasant for Timor-Leste” when it makes its bid for full-fledged membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), strongly insinuating that the Philippines will block such a move.

This outburst was reiterated two days later by the Foreign Affairs secretary. In the midst of all this, the government in Dili issued a statement saying that it “respected” the decision of its court and was standing by its justice system.

In evidently trying to bully a young and small country, while in the same breath denouncing the alleged bullying of China in the South China Sea, the Philippines is coming off internationally as hypocritical when it comes to diplomacy.

The government reaction is all the more perplexing when it comes to Timor-tLeste’s membership in ASEAN, considering that approval thereof is based on consensus and consultation, thus is a collegial decision.

Timor-Leste has complied with all the requirements for membership, which had qualified it for “observer status.” Many doubt the Philippines, although a founding member, has the diplomatic clout at present to exert any sort of effective suasion on the other members to block Timor-Leste’s full membership.

The Philippines’ tantrum against Timor-Leste, far from nudging it closer to getting Teves back, is making the Philippines look like the one that is immature. In addition, the verbal tirades have hardened the position of Dili to stick to its decision to grant refuge to Teves. Manila’s little stunt was both ill-conceived and ill-advised.

In this case, resorting to tricks and/or threats will not work.