MANILA, Philippines: Arnolfo Teves, a former congressman from the Philippines accused of orchestrating the assassination of a provincial governor, Roel Degamo, has been apprehended at a golf driving range in East Timor.
Teves, believed to be the mastermind behind the March 2023 attack that claimed the lives of Governor Degamo and nine others, was detained by East Timorese police following an Interpol “red notice” for his arrest.
The assailants, donning military-style attire, stormed Degamo’s residence on March 4, perpetrating the deadliest political assault in the Philippines in recent memory. While eleven suspects were apprehended in connection with the attack, Teves had evaded capture until now.
Teves’s brother, Henry, who previously held the governorship of Negros Oriental, was ousted from office after electoral authorities confirmed Degamo’s victory in the 2022 election. The Supreme Court upheld this decision shortly before Degamo’s assassination.
Arnolfo Teves, expelled from the House of Representatives in 2023 for his alleged involvement in the murder, faces multiple charges including murder upon his extradition to the Philippines. His arrest signifies a significant development in the pursuit of justice for Governor Degamo’s widow, Janice Degamo, who expressed relief at the apprehension of her husband’s purported killer.
The Philippines, plagued by a history of politically motivated violence, continues to grapple with ensuring the safety of its elected officials amid heightened tensions and rivalries.
