The Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently exploring the possibility of requesting the deportation of Arnolfo Teves Jr., a suspended Representative from Negros Oriental tagged as the mastermind in the killing of Gov. Roel Degamo.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla earlier told reporters that the representative is still in Cambodia,
According to DOJ assistant secretary spokesperson Mico Clavano, deportation is the 'most logical process' to bring home Teves citing there is 'actually a possibility'.
However, he also emphasized that it will still be a matter of diplomacy in Cambodia.
“It’s still the discretion of the requested party (Cambodia) whether or not they will deport (Teves) or not. So we really have to play this the right way and make sure we close the case and tighten the case so we have enough basis to show this person is right for deportation," he said.
Clavano was surprised that the Philippines has only 13 countries with extradition treaties which for him is 'not a lot'.
“When you talk about extradition, it means there’s already an agreement between two states whereby the requesting state will request for the extradition of a certain suspect or a defendant and the requested state will have no choice but to extradite,” Clavano explained.
Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio has previously said that the representative will not be returning home to the country unless the government complies with "certain requests" about his security.
Meanwhile, the hearing for the Degamo case will be on Monday, April 17, with Senator Bato Dela Rosa leading the probe's committee.
