Teves facing more House sanctions after rejected asylum bid

Suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.

LABUAN BAJO—Further sanctions may be imposed by the House on suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. if he still refuses to come back to the Philippines, Speaker Martin Romualdez said here on Wednesday night.

Romualdez issued the warning as he also reported that the government of Timor-Leste had denied Teves’ application for asylum.

The Speaker, who was part of President Marcos’ official delegation to the 42nd Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit here, reiterated his call for Teves to come home and face accusations linking him to the March 4 killing of his political rival, Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, in an attack that also claimed eight other lives.

“He should really come back. And if he still refuses to do so, then there may be another House ethics (committee) recommendation for further sanctions against Congressman Teves,” Romualdez told reporters.

With the denial of asylum, Teves was given five days by the Timor-Leste government to leave the country.

“So, it’s up now to Cong. Arnie Teves to return home. Or if he decides to move to another country, he can,” Romualdez said. “But if I were him, I would come home already because everyone is well aware of the allegations hurled against him.”

Earlier this week, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the National Bureau of Investigation would move to cancel Teves’ passports once charges had been filed against him.

Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio had derisively pointed out that two months after Degamo’s killing, no formal charges had been filed against his client in relation to the case and despite Remulla calling him the “mastermind” in media statements.

—With a report from Jacob Lazaro

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