Government Considers that the Presence of a Fugitive in Timor-Leste Compromises Security and the National Interest
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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May 28h, 2025
Press Release
Government Considers Presence of Fugitive Citizen in Timor-Leste a Threat to National Security and Interests
The Government of Timor-Leste believes that the presence of Filipino citizen Arnolfo Teves Jr. in its territory, who is suspected of having committed several serious crimes and has been formally charged by the judicial authorities of the Republic of the Philippines – a member country of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – represents a serious and unacceptable situation.
His extended stay in Timor-Leste for over two years poses a disruptive factor in bilateral relations between the two States and establishes a serious precedent with potential implications for internal security. The perception that Timor-Leste might be viewed as a refuge for individuals fleeing international justice undermines the integrity of our borders and our shared efforts to combat transnational crime.
The imminent full accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, scheduled for October this year, further reinforces the responsibility of the Timorese State to actively collaborate with its regional partners in upholding justice, legality, and stability in the region.
The Government hereby informs that Arnolfo Teves Jr. will be deported from Timor-Leste by administrative decision of the Ministry of the Interior, as he is in the country without a valid visa, lacking legal authorisation to remain, and holding a passport that the Government of the Philippines has cancelled.
The decision, which takes effect immediately, is based on national legislation regarding migration and asylum and is grounded in the risks that this citizen's continued presence poses to public order and national security.
It should also be noted that the citizen in question faces several criminal charges in the Philippines, including 13 counts of murder, 13 counts of frustrated murder, and 4 counts of attempted murder, related to crimes committed between 2019 and 2023, including the murder of the then Governor of Negros Oriental, Roel Degamo. In light of these facts, and in accordance with the Migration and Asylum Law, it was also decided to prohibit him from entering the national territory for a period of 10 years.
The Government reaffirms its commitment to the principles of the rule of law, respect for international norms concerning cooperation between states, and the safeguarding of security and stability not only within the national territory but also in the Southeast Asia region, in coordination with the collective efforts of ASEAN Member States. END
