Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., the expelled Negros Oriental representative and alleged mastermind of the brutal March 2023 assassination of Governor Roel Degamo and nine others, was arrested Tuesday evening at his residence in Dili, Timor-Leste’s capital.

According to Teves’ legal counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, immigration police took Teves into custody around 8 p.m. local time, along with his Timor-Leste lawyer, Dr. Joao Serra.

Topacio said Serra was “manhandled” during the arrest and both men are currently being held at the Ministry of the Interior compound in Dili. However, no official warrant or written explanation was presented at the time of detention.

Legal team goes to court

Teves’ legal team has filed a habeas corpus petition in Timor-Leste, questioning his sudden arrest and planned deportation to the Philippines.

“If granted, authorities must explain why Teves is being held and on what grounds he’ll be deported,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said, citing Timorese constitutional provisions.

His lawyers argue that deporting Teves would defy Timor-Leste’s earlier court ruling rejecting the Philippines’ extradition request, which cited risks of torture and unfair treatment.

Topacio said they are also considering a second legal remedy, a “cautelar writ,” to stop any attempt to forcibly fly Teves out.

While acknowledging that Teves is now undocumented after his passport was canceled, Topacio insisted he remains protected under international asylum laws.

“If he’s sent back, we’re ready to defend him. But we’re confident — especially with several witnesses recanting — that the government’s case won’t hold,” Topacio added.

He confirmed that Teves’ asylum bid remains under review.

Teves has been on the run for over two years after being charged with orchestrating the 4 March 2023 daylight killing of Governor Degamo and several others in what became known as the Pamplona Massacre — a politically motivated killing that shocked the nation.

After refusing to return to the Philippines to face charges, Teves was expelled from Congress last year.

Following his disappearance, Teves resurfaced in Timor-Leste where he sought political asylum, claiming he was being persecuted by the Philippine government.

Despite several extradition requests from Manila, Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeals denied the requests two months ago, citing concerns under Article 35(3) of its Constitution, which prohibits extradition if there is a credible risk of torture or inhumane treatment.

President José Ramos-Horta, however, has since made clear that Timor-Leste’s handling of the case was guided by national interest.

“We do not want Timor-Leste to become a safe haven for criminals from the region,” Ramos-Horta said in a press briefing at the Presidential Palace.

He described the non-extradition ruling as “outdated” and emphasized that with no eligibility for asylum, plus an active Interpol warrant and a formal Philippine extradition request, the country must comply with Manila’s demands.

The President urged Timor-Leste’s judicial and law enforcement bodies to act promptly, underscoring the importance of delivering swift justice.

Diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Timor-Leste have been strained since the March ruling.

Philippine Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla warned the refusal to extradite Teves could jeopardize Timor-Leste’s bid for full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which the Philippines is a founding member.

Despite this, tensions have eased somewhat, with the Philippines recently expressing support for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession, scheduled for this October.

Widow welcomes arrest

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental Representative-elect Janice Degamo, widow of the slain governor, welcomed Teves’s arrest as a “significant step toward justice” after nearly two years of waiting.

In a statement, she said: “This is not just personal justice for my family, but a victory for the people of Negros Oriental and the Filipino public, many of whom were horrified by the massacre captured on CCTV and shared widely online. For over two years, our message has been clear — those responsible must be held accountable, no matter how far they run or how long they hide.”

Degamo highlighted the importance of international cooperation in pursuing fugitives wanted for serious crimes, saying: “Let this arrest remind everyone that no one is above the law. It shows how strong our global efforts for justice can be.”

She expressed hope that Teves’s arrest will lead to proper legal proceedings that will bring “lasting peace” to Negros Oriental, a province long troubled by political violence and turmoil.

Authorities have also linked Teves to an alleged private armed group called the Teves Terrorist Group that was reportedly responsible for multiple killings and unrest in the region.

“We now look forward to justice — not only for my beloved Roel, but also for the hundreds who suffered because of this group’s violence,” she said.

At this writing, Philippine officials are closely coordinating with Timor-Leste authorities to finalize the next legal steps, including the deportation or extradition of Teves back to the Philippines to face multiple murder charges.

The arrest marks a critical milestone in the long and painful quest for justice of the Degamo family, local communities, and the country at large, hoping that this will finally bring closure to one of the most high-profile political assassinations in recent Philippine history.