DFA ordered to cancel expelled solon Arnie Teves’ passport

In a resolution dated February 8, Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel Teves’ passport, citing the former lawmaker’s “designation” by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), which served as grounds for the revocation of his documents.

“WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is ordered to cancel the passport of Arnolfo A. Teves, Jr,” the resolution read.

The Manila court also ordered the DFA and the National Bureau of Investigation to “take proper steps” to facilitate Teves’ return to the country.

Teves, who was expelled from the House of Representatives in August 2023, reportedly sought asylum in East Timor which the country denied.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Dec. 3, 2023 then asked the expelled solon’s passport to be revoked so he “will be unable to travel from country to country.”

In August 2023, the ATC designated Teves as a terrorist, alleging his leadership of an armed group involved in orchestrating killings and a series of harassments in Negros Oriental.

A designation by the ATC is one of the means of categorizing an individual, group, organization or association as a terrorist under the highly-assailed Anti-Terrorism Law (ATL).

The suspended lawmaker was also charged with financing terrorism under Section 4 of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, as well as similar provisions under the  ATL.

Teves was tagged to be the alleged mastermind of the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on March 4, 2023.

Aside from the killing of Degamo, Teves is also facing a separate warrant of arrest for a murder case in the killings of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.

The DOJ also requested the Interpol to issue a “red notice” alert to countries for the arrest of the former solon.

In a press release by the DOJ, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that they will not allow individuals with heinous crimes to evade the country’s legal process.

“This is a clear message that our society demands accountability, and we shall leave no stone unturned to bring alleged perpetrators to book. Our resolve to create a just and fair Philippine society for all is stronger than ever,” the DOJ said, quoting Remulla.

Meanwhile, Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said that they will resort to all legal remedies available to reverse the decision of the Manila RTC as it is not yet “final and executory.”

“As always, the presumption of innocence remains,” Topacio said.

— Ian Laqui with reports from Daphne Galvez