Romualdez warns Teves may face a new disciplinary action
FIile Photo of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (INQUIRER/Grig C. Montegrande)
MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. may face a new disciplinary measure from the House of Representatives.
This is if he refuses to return to the Philippines.
In a statement, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the House committee on ethics and privileges may consider a new disciplinary measure once the suspension period lapses.
The same committee handed down a 60-day suspension against Teves on March 22, 2023.
Teves is suspended until May 22.
“Should Cong. Arnie continue to defy the return to work order after the lapse of the 60-day period of his suspension, the House Committee on ethics and privileges may be constrained to reconvene and consider another possible disciplinary action against him,” Romualdez warned.
“This is our recourse in order to preserve the dignity, integrity and reputation of the House of Representatives,” he added.
READ: Rep. Arnolfo Teves gets 60 days suspension as House OKs ethics pane report
Romualdez made this remark after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed on Tuesday that Teves entered Timor Leste last week in the hopes of seeking asylum.
On Tuesday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the request for asylum bid was denied.
“We, in the House of Representatives, view with great concern reports from the DOJ and the DFA that Rep. Arnie Teves has applied for political asylum in Timor Leste,” Romualdez had said.
“I discourage any attempt by our colleague, Cong. Arnie, to seek refuge in another country and abandon his sworn duty to serve as a Member of the House of Representatives. Rather than evade investigation by Philippine law enforcement agencies, Cong. Arnie should return home immediately and face the accusation against him,” he added.
READ: Suspended Rep. Teves eyeing asylum in Timor Leste, says DOJ chief
READ: DFA says Timor-Leste rejects Teves’ request for political asylum
Teves has not returned to the Philippines since he was allowed by the House to go on a medical trip from February 28 to March 9, citing safety concerns for him and his family.
This was after he was named by a Special Investigation Task Group as the mastermind behind the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and other individuals in Pamplona town on March 4, 2023.
The lawmaker has denied involvement in the Degamo slay, saying that he and his brother, former governor Pryde Henry Teves, would not benefit from the incident.
READ: Cong. Teves condemns brutal killing of Gov. Degamo, denies involvement
READ: Teves ready to return to PH, face accusations but…
Romualdez said he had been guaranteeing the safety of Teves.
“I had repeatedly assured him that the House of Representatives would secure his safety upon his return to the Philippines,” he said.
Previously, the Speaker said he was looking to label Teves as a terrorist so that it would be harder for the suspended lawmaker to evade the authorities.
If Teves is identified as a terrorist, his assets would be frozen, making the world smaller for him, according to Remulla.
READ: DOJ eyeing to ‘designate’ Teves as terrorist under anti-terror law
READ: Moves under way to tag Teves as terrorist – DOJ
For his part, Teves had said it appeared like Remulla and the Department of Justice (DOJ) were persecuting him without sufficient evidence.
READ: Teves asks ‘boss’ Remulla amid possible terror tag: Why are you pinning me down?
