Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said he does not believe that former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. wanted to resolve the charges against him in the Philippines while he was in Timor-Leste.

Teves, the alleged mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, is back in the Philippines after being deported by authorities in Timor-Leste.

“Hindi, ayaw niya lang talaga umuwi,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

(No, he just didn’t want to return.)

“In fact, if you analyze everything that happened, nung nangyari ‘yan he was abroad. But if he really was innocent, he would have come home. Pwede naman siya umuwi eh, pero hindi siya umuwi, di ba?” he added.

(In fact, if you analyze everything that happened, when that happened he was abroad. But if he really was innocent, he would have come home. He could have returned, but he didn’t, right?)

While being read his Miranda rights during his flight, Teves said that he had no problem with returning to the Philippines as long as it was done right.

In an earlier briefing, he also said that while he was in Timor-Leste, he thought that the cases against him must be resolved.

“At least ma-ano na din, matapos na rin. Kahit nung nandoon ako [sa Timor-Leste], iniisip ko kung hindi man ako umuwi. Haharapin— kailangan din ito matapos eh,” Teves said earlier.

(At least it will finally be over. Even when I was in Timor-Leste, I was already thinking that even if I didn’t return, this still had to be faced and resolved.)

Teves was supposedly seeking treatment in the United States during the shooting Degamo and others on March 4, 2023 in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

Instead of returning to the country, Remulla said Teves visited ASEAN countries before settling in Timor-Leste.

“So what gives? Di ba flight is an indication of guilt,” Remulla said.

When sought for comment, Topacio declined to comment, saying that Teves never said he wanted to return to the country.

In an earlier briefing, Teves reiterated that he was concerned for his life when asked why he stayed in Timor-Leste if he knew that he needed to face the charges against him.

The former lawmaker is facing multiple murder charges over the killing of  Degamo and nine others on March 4, 2023 at the Degamo residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

Teves and others have also been charged with the alleged killings of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019.

He and 12 others have also been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental.

He was expelled by the House of Representatives in August last year for disorderly conduct and continued absence. —AOL, GMA Integrated News