No special treatment for Teves —Topacio

Detained former lawmaker Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. is not receiving any special treatment at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City and will only be held alone temporarily, his legal counsel said.

Teves, who was deported by Timor-Leste on 29 May, is in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at its regular detention cell at the NBP. His lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said Teves will comply with all jail regulations and will eventually share a cell with another inmate.

“There’s no special treatment here. Mr. Teves is in a standard 10-square meter cell with a bunk bed, a toilet bowl, and a small electric fan — just like any other detainee,” Topacio said. “He has agreed to follow all the rules for detainees, including the sharing of cells.”

He said the brief solo occupancy is part of an “acclimatization” period, as initially explained by NBI Director Jaime Santiago.

On his arrival in Manila on Thursday night, Teves, wearing a bulletproof vest and Kevlar helmet, was transported in a bulletproof vehicle to the NBI detention facility inside Bilibid.

Teves is facing multiple murder charges for the assassination of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others, as well as other crimes.

Teves continues to assert his innocence, claiming he fled the country and sought refuge in Timor-Leste due to threats to his life.

He said he is hoping for a “speedy and fair trial” as the legal proceedings unfold.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has assured the Timor-Leste government that all deportation conditions will be respected.

Arrest, deportation timeline

On 27 May, Teves was arrested at his residence in Dili, Timor-Leste by immigration authorities. He was found to be overstaying in the country without a valid visa and was in possession of a canceled Philippine passport.

The following day, Timor-Leste officially announced its decision to deport him, citing immigration violations and a national security risk posed by his continued stay in the country. On 29 May, Teves was deported to the Philippines. NBI Director Santiago and other officials flew to Timor-Leste in a Philippine Air Force plane to pick him up. Upon arrival, he was received by a team from the Department of Justice.

Teves’s lawyer in Timor-Leste filed a petition for habeas corpus, claiming the arrest was unlawful and carried out without a proper warrant.

His son, Axl Teves, in an online post accused Timor-Leste authorities of kidnapping and abusing his father, saying no legal documents were presented during the arrest.

Teves had been living in Timor-Leste since 2023 and sought political asylum following the murder charges filed against him.

In March 2025, the Timor-Leste Court of Appeal denied the Philippines’ extradition request due to supposed procedural lapses.

In the Philippines, Teves faces multiple criminal charges, including 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder, and four counts of attempted murder. He is also charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives, as well as financing terrorism.

In August 2024, Teves was expelled from the House of Representatives for disorderly conduct and prolonged unauthorized absence.

Teves has consistently denied the allegations against him and claims he left the country out of fear for his safety.