📷Expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.
THE much-awaited return of expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. would be as “spectacular” the way fugitive Chinese national turned Bamban Mayor Alice Guo did when top government officials escorted her on her way back to the Philippines after being arrested in Indonesia.
According to Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, the Philippine government is all set to take Teves home too as soon as Pope Francis wraps up his visit to Timor Leste.
“Teves is coming home very soon. Malapit na. Andun lang ang Papa (Pope Francis) ngayon sa Timor-Leste. Expectation natin within the month uuwi na si Teves,” Remulla told reporters.
When asked how Teves would be brought home, a seemingly sarcastic DOJ chief claimed that Teves would neither be boarding a private jet nor be transported via chartered flight from Timor Leste.
Remulla said that his agency has already made arrangements with the Philippine Air Force which would use its aircraft in fetching the fugitive congressman from Timor Leste.
“Saka yun Air Force airplane ang aming kinuha na may agreement na kami sa Air Force. Para yung eroplanong sasakyan manggagaling sa ating Air Force,” he noted.
Teves left the country days before the gruesome murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo in March 2023. He has since been hopping from one country to another to evade arrest. He however was arrested on his last stop – Timor Leste where he sought (but declined) political asylum.
As for fugitive former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag who has been hiding since an arrest warrant was issued over the Percy Lapid slay case, Remulla claimed that they’ve been receiving surrender feelers.
When asked for an update on the government manhunt operation, the DOJ chief said intelligence reports suggest politicians are coddling Bantag.
“Susunod na yun, huwag kayo mag-alala,” Remulla assured. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
