Romualdez is caretaker of Arnie Teves’ district during suspension period
MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez will act as the caretaker of Negros Oriental’s 3rd District, while Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is serving the 60-day suspension handed out by the chamber.
Romualdez said on Thursday that he was made the caretaker under House of Representatives Memorandum Order No. 19-017 that he himself issued last March 23.
“In the interest of the people of the 3rd District of Negros Oriental, the undersigned shall act as the Legislative Caretaker of the 3rd District of Negros Oriental for the period 23 March 2023 to 22 May 2023. This order takes effect immediately,” the order read.
It could be remembered that Teves was placed on a 60-day suspension after the House last March 22 — on its last session day — adopted the Committee on ethics and privileges’ recommendations.
The panel headed by COOP-NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares recommended the suspension as Teves failed to physically appear before the House despite his travel authority expiring last March 9.
READ: Rep. Arnolfo Teves gets 60 days suspension as House OKs ethics panel report
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The House panel said Teves’ refusal to return despite Romualdez’s orders “constitute disorderly behavior affecting the dignity, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives, which warrant disciplinary action.”
Teves, who went to the United States for a medical trip, has refused to come back home, claiming serious threats to his life.
The supposed threats came about after Teves was accused by a Special Investigation Task Group as the alleged mastermind behind the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.
Teves, however, has denied any involvement in the crime, saying that he and his brother, former governor Pryde Henry Teves, would not gain anything from it. In past videos uploaded on his Facebook page, Teves said he fears that threats to his life may happen if he returns, given that his previous warning of raids on his properties came true.
READ: Cong. Teves condemns brutal killing of Gov. Degamo, denies involvement
READ: Teves ready to return to PH, face accusations but…
According to the Office of Speaker Romualdez, the House usually assigns caretakers for districts that are not represented due to their elected lawmakers being assigned to cabinet posts or suspended or expelled.
Teves’ camp appealed the lawmaker’s suspension, with lawyer Ferdinand Topacio saying they are pleading to the committee to reconsider matters that “may have been overlooked.”
Topacio also said that Teves’ still submits to the authority of the House and that while Teves cannot provide evidence as to why a threat against him exists, not all threats are tangible and could be presented to the committee as evidence.
