DILI, 28 May 2025 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste has officially announced the deportation of Filipino Fugitive Arnolfo Teves Jr, calling his continued presence in the country a threat to national security and regional stability.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Government said that: “Arnolfo Teves Jr. will be deported from Timor-Leste by administrative decision of the Ministry of the Interior, as he is in the country without a valid visa, lacking legal authorization to remain, and holding a passport that the Government of the Philippines has canceled.”
The government said that the presence of Teves in Timor-Leste — who is suspected of committing several serious crimes and has been formally charged by judicial authorities in the Philippines, a member country of ASEAN represents a “serious and unacceptable situation.”
Teves is facing multiple serious criminal charges in the Philippines, including 13 counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and 4 counts of attempted murder. Among the allegations is his involvement in the 2023 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
Timorese authorities emphasized that allowing an individual who is suspected of having committed several serious crimes to remain in the country could set “a serious precedent with potential implications for internal security.” “The perception that Timor-Leste might be viewed as a refuge for individuals fleeing international justice undermines the integrity of our borders and our shared efforts to combat transnational crime,” the Government said in a statement released today.
The government also highlighted the importance of upholding justice, legality, and stability in the region as Timor-Leste prepares for full ASEAN membership in October 2025.
Citing national migration and asylum laws, the government has also imposed a 10-year ban on Teves from re-entering Timor-Leste.
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the rule of law, respect for international norms concerning cooperation between states, and the safeguarding of security and stability not only within the national territory but also in the Southeast Asia region, in coordination with the collective efforts of ASEAN Member States.
Timor-Leste authorities, on Tuesday night, arrested Teves during a joint operation conducted by the Immigration Police and the Public Order Battalion (BOP) of the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL).
Teves is currently being held at the Immigration Police in Dili, awaiting deportation.
Teves is on the Philippines police’s wanted list after fleeing to evade legal proceedings over murder cases he is allegedly involved in.
Teves, who flew to Timor-Leste in 2023 to seek political asylum, was labeled by the Philippines’ Anti-Terrorism Council as a terrorist.
He was arrested on March 21, 2024, by the Scientific and Criminal Investigation Police in Areia Branca, Dili.
TATOLI
