Arnolfo Teves Jr. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
The passport of expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is now in the process of cancellation, according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
“If you are a fugitive from justice, your right to travel is impaired basically. His passport is in the process of being canceled,” Remulla said in a press briefing.
“Your constitutional right to travel is limited when you are fugitive from justice, and you cannot seek from a government for protection if you have a record that you are a fugitive from justice,” he added.
READ: DOJ working closely with Interpol to bring ex-congressman Teves back to PH
Remulla said Teves still remains in Timor-Leste, where the former legislator sought asylum but was denied.
Teves has appealed the denial, but Remulla said he believes the former lawmaker does not have a big chance of securing asylum.
Once Teves’ passport is canceled, the justice secretary said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will work out to place him in the red notice of the International Criminal Police Organization. He added that Teves’ name would also be included in the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime records.
READ: DOJ to ask East Timor to turn over Arnolfo Teves Jr.
Teves, who has been designated as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council, is facing multiple murder charges for the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine other people, as well as for the 2019 murders of three other persons in the province.
Remulla said he would write a letter asking East Timor to turn over Teves to the Philippines.