By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Friday former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves would be detained at the agency’s custodial facility at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago made the announcement as the agency presented Teves to the media at the NBI headquarters in Pasay City.
Santiago said exceptional statesmanship on the part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. prompted the Timor-Leste government to repatriate Teves to the Philippines.
“Sa magandang pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating Pangulo, President Bongbong Marcos, sa Presidente ng Timor-Leste, si Presidente Jose Ramos-Horta, nag-decide po ang government ng Timor-Leste (Following the cordial communication between President Marcos and President Jose Ramos-Horta, the Timor-Leste government decided) to finally turn over to us Congressman Teves so that he can answer on the charges against him,” he said.
As the NBI custodial facility along Taft Avenue in Manila is undergoing renovation, Santiago said Teves would be detained at the NBP under a prior arrangement with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
“Wala po kaming detention facilities. Nakipag-coordinate kami with BuCor, binigay sa amin ang Building 14. That building is distinct and separate from the BuCor kung saan ang mga convicted ay nakakulong (We have no detention facilities. We coordinated with BuCor and they gave us Building 14. That building is distinct and separate from where convicted criminals are incarcerated),” he said.
Building 14 was used in the past to house convicted drug lords.
“Detention facility po ‘yun ng NBI under our control, tao po namin ang nakabantay doon (That is under NBI control and our personnel is in charge there),” Santiago said.
He mentioned that among the commitments made by the Philippine government was that any penalty imposed on Teves would not exceed 40 years.
Meanwhile, Teves said he feels safe with the NBI and is treated well.
“I feel safer with the NBI detention. Pasalamat tayo kay direktor at sa lahat ng staff ng NBI Magandang ‘yung pagtrato nila sa akin magmula sa pagkuha sa akin hanggang ngayon (I am thankful to the NBI director and all the NBI staff. They treated me well from the time they got custody of me until now),” he said.
The Philippine Air Force plane carrying Teves departed Timor-Leste at 2:42 p.m. Thursday (Manila time) and arrived in Davao City at 7:27 p.m.
After refueling, the plane took off from Davao City at 8:27 p.m. and arrived at the Villamor Air Base at 11:19 p.m.
At 12:03 a.m. Friday, Teves was formally turned over to the NBI.
Teves is facing multiple criminal charges, including the high-profile assassination of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo in 2023 and other murder cases in 2019. (PNA)
