FORMER Congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. has been released from Becora Prison in Dili, Timor-Leste.
This was announced by his lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, who said that the request for extradition by the Philippine Government was made out of time and in a manner that is not sanctioned by practice and customary international law.
“In other words, our government ‘screwed up.’ Thus, his imprisonment was declared illegal,”Topacio said.
Topacio said that Teves will have to undergo further proceedings relating to his continued stay in Timor-Leste which will start on Tuesday and he will be present therein, together with witnesses in his favor, including former Human Rights Commissioner Wilhelm Soriano, who will be presented as an expert in human rights.”
“The road to justice for Mr. Teves will be long and hard, bloody and painful, but we will never surrender, to paraphrase Winston Churchill,” Topacio said.
In March, Teves was arrested in East Timor while playing golf.
Teves faces charges related to the shooting death of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in March last year.
