President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. will now have to answer for the criminal cases pending before the Manila Regional Trial Court.

“It is now time for Mr. Teves to face justice,” President Marcos said in a video message aired minutes after the Philippines Air Force plane carrying Teves touched down in Davao City for a refueling stop before flying to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

President Marcos noted that he was first informed of the development by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão during the recently concluded ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur early this week.

“He (Gusmão) shared that Timor-Leste was ready to send former Congressman Teves back to the Philippines,” President Marcos said.

The President credited the Timor-Leste leadership for Teves’ arrest.

“This would not have happened without the assistance of President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Gusmão,” President Marcos added. “They worked very hard to bring this matter to a conclusion.”

Teves faces multiple criminal charges, including the high-profile assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo in 2023 and other murder cases in 2019.

“We would like to assure our citizens that lawlessness will not go unpunished,” the President emphasized. | PND