Arnie Teves, inaresto sa Timor-Leste; anak na si Axl Teves, iginigiit na “kinidnap” ang kanyang ama

- Arnie Teves, a former congressman of the 3rd District of Negros Oriental, has been arrested at his Dili, Timor-Leste residence on Tuesday, May 27, 2025

- His son, Axl Teves, posted a video on social media of the moment his father was being taken by authorities, claiming the latter is being “kidnapped”

- The former lawmaker is accused of masterminding the March 2023 Pamplona Massacre, which resulted in the deaths of Governor Roel Degamo and nine others

- Despite Teves' consistent denials and claims of political persecution, the Philippine government expressed preparedness in facilitating his transfer of custody to face the charges

Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., a former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative, who is facing multiple murder charges in the Philippines, was reportedly arrested at his residence in Dili, Timor-Leste, on Tuesday evening, May 27, 2025.

This development was confirmed by his son, Axl Teves, who took to social media and posted a 10-second video on Facebook, which purportedly shows immigration officers forcibly removing Arnolfo Teves from his house in Dili.

The younger Teves also described the supposed arrest as “kidnapping” and “abuse” of his father.

It can be recalled that Philippine authorities have tagged the former lawmaker as the alleged mastermind behind the brutal March 4, 2023, massacre in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, which resulted in the deaths of Governor Roel Degamo and nine other individuals.

He has consistently denied the charges, asserting that he is a victim of political persecution and refusing to return to the Philippines to face trial.

At the time of his arrest last Tuesday night, the Philippine Department of Justice, through spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano IV, stated that they could not officially confirm Teves’ arrest as of early Wednesday morning, Philippine time, pending direct communication from the Timor-Leste government.

“We await their action. Until we receive official communication from the Timor-Leste government, we cannot confirm anything,” Clavano stated in an earlier statement.

He further clarified that it was unclear whether the arrest was due to Teves being an undocumented foreigner, related to the cancellation of his Philippine passport, or in connection with the Philippine government’s extradition request.

However, Clavano affirmed that the Philippine government was “ready to arrange the transfer of custody by the most expeditious means once we are clarified on this issue.”

Later that day, the DOJ issued a formal statement acknowledging the arrest of the former lawmaker.

Teves was previously granted asylum in Timor-Leste in August 2023, but this status was later revoked in December of the same year.

The Philippine government has been actively pursuing his extradition to face charges in connection with the Degamo assassination and other related criminal cases. The formal request for his extradition was submitted in October 2023.

The news of Teves’ alleged arrest and his son’s “kidnap” claim has generated significant discussion on social media.

Comments on related posts revealed a mixture of reactions, ranging from skepticism regarding the “kidnapping” claim to strong calls for justice for the victims of the Pamplona Massacre.

Some users expressed hope for his immediate return to the Philippines to face charges, while others questioned the legal process and the circumstances of the arrest.

The incident continues to be a high-profile case with implications for justice and international cooperation between the Philippines and Timor-Leste.

News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In news back home, the junior officers who accused a general of r@pe have returned to duty after a mental wellness break. PAF provided legal and psychological assistance, though the victims opted for private counsel and external psychological evaluation. PAF described the alleged r@pe as an isolated case and emphasized personnel awareness of rights under the Safe Spaces Act. The case is pending approval from AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. for referral to the General Court Martial.

Still in other news, a fatal passenger jeepney accident in Pagbilao, Quezon, resulted in the death of a woman and causing injuries to 15 others. One woman died and 15 individuals were injured after a passenger jeepney overturned in Barangay Silangan Malicboy on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. The lone fatality was a female passenger who was thrown from the jeepney and then fatally hit by a separate truck. Pagbilao Police have launched an investigation into the crash and are actively looking for the driver of the truck involved.

Source: KAMI.com.gh