DOJ vows to oppose appeals on cancellation of Arnie Teves' passport

Rep. Arnie Teves on Zoom April 17, 2023

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said it will oppose motions seeking the reconsideration of the court decision that ordered the cancellation of the passport of former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., the alleged mastermind behind the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

“Well, itong mga sinasabi ng kabilang kampo na mag fa-file daw sila ng motion for reconsideration at ia-apela nila yung decision hanggat kaya sa Court of Appeals or kung umabot man sa Supreme Court ay i-oppose talaga namin,” Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said in an ambush interview.

(We will oppose what the other camp was saying about filing a motion for reconsideration and appealing the decision before the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court.)

“Dahil sa tingin ho namin, this is something that we will not let up on no. Itong kaso na ito ay nagpapakita ng impunity sa ating bansa,” Clavano added.

(We think that this is something that we will not let up on. This case shows impunity in our country.)

Last week, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel the passport of Teves.

It also directed the National Bureau of Investigation to take proper steps for Teves to be brought back to the country.

The court said that the prosecution established that Teves, who has yet to return to the country since Degamo and others were attacked in March 2023, is a fugitive from justice.

Not yet final and executory

Clavano, however, clarified that the court decision on the cancellation is not yet final and executory.

“Well due process dictates na yung decision po ay magiging final and executory only upon 15 days, within which may chance po ang kabilang counsel o kabilang kampo na mag file ng kahit anong necessary pleading nila. So kasama na po diyan ang motion for reconsideration,” he said.

(Due process dictates that the decision will become final and executory only upon 15 days, within which the legal counsel or the other camp may file their necessary pleading. This includes the motion for reconsideration.)

Asked if the possible filing of a motion on the part of Teves’ camp will stall the execution of the cancellation, Clavano said this was up to “the appreciation of the judge.”

“Sa tingin ho namin, that’s something— that’s a bone of contention din. Dahil doon naman sa decision, nakalagay naman doon na yung personality ni Ginoong Teves ay i-acknowledge lang kung humarap talaga siya mismo sa korte,” he said.

(We think that’s a bone of contention too. Because the court decision stated that the personality of Mr. Teves will only be acknowledged should he personally face the court.)

Meanwhile, Clavano said that with the cancellation, Teves will no longer be able to jump between countries.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla previously said that Teves was jumping between Timor-Leste — where he sought asylum and was rejected — Cambodia, and Thailand.

“This is a very good development for us dahil yun naman talaga ang gusto natin. Siguro to come back home and to face the charges like man,” Clavano said.

(This is a very good development for us because this is really what we wanted. For him to come back home and face the charges like a man.)

“We really did want to bring him to the proper venue dahil matagal na natin siyang nakikita sa mga interviews, marami siyang binabanggit tungkol sa kaso, ngunit hindi niya hinaharap mismo yung charges kung saan, tama— yung tamang venue at yung tamang forum ay yung korte mismo,” he added.

(We really did want to bring him to the proper venue because we’ve seen him in interviews where he talks about the case, but he’s not facing the charges. The proper venue and proper forum is the court.)

Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, the legal counsel of Teves, earlier said the order is not final and executory.

“There is still an entire slew of legal remedies available to us in order to reverse the same, and we fully intend to resort to all of them,” Topacio said in a statement.

He said it was “amusing” for their camp that authorities have been talking as if Teves has been convicted.— RSJ, GMA Integrated News

This article DOJ vows to oppose appeals on cancellation of Arnie Teves’ passport was originally published in GMA News Online.