By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has issued a Red Notice against fugitive former lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Wednesday.
In a press briefing, Remulla said a team from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be sent to the last known whereabouts of Teves to work with the Interpol in enforcing an arrest warrant issued by a Manila court.
An Interpol Red Notice is equivalent to an international warrant of arrest, Remulla said.
“Sa political and criminal jurisdiction ng ating bansa, we can issue a warrant of arrest within our boundaries. Pag tumakas ang ibang tao at nag-ibang bayan, humihingi tayo ng tulong sa iba’t ibang bansa. At tayo rin ay nakikisama rin at tumutulong sa kanila na hulihin ‘yung mga tinutugis ng batas upang sila ay mapanagot sa kanilang mga krimen,” Remulla noted.
“(East) Timor may apprehend Teves. However, they might prefer us to send a team there. Most likely, we will dispatch a team to (East) Timor to execute the warrant,” he said.
Remulla said the procedure may only require “two to three team members” from Manila.
“It’s not difficult to do. But we need to finalize the formal communication and paperwork.”
The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51, in a Feb. 8 decision, directed the immediate cancellation of the passport of Teves, who is facing multiple murder charges and has been declared a fugitive from justice in connection with the killing of his political rival, former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and 10 others.
In compliance with the court’s order, the Department of Foreign Affairs was directed to cancel Teves’ passport while the National Bureau of Investigation was instructed to take appropriate measures to facilitate the return of the accused to the country.
Teves remains at large and has been reported to be in East Timor.
The court noted that the severity of the charges against Teves and his designation as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council justifies the cancellation of his travel documents.
