House SecGen: No info on Teves’ return to PH, but we’re ready for it

Suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — There is still no information as to whether suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. would return to the country today, but the House of Representatives secretary general assured that the chamber would be ready should it happen.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said that they could not speculate on what would happen once Teves’ 60-day suspension lapses since they are not sure if the lawmaker would return.

Teves was suspended last March 22 after House members voted to adopt the House committee on ethics and privileges’ recommendation, as he failed to show up despite directives from Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.  He would remain suspended until May 22.

“We cannot really speculate kasi wala pa tayong (because we have no) confirmation that he is really returning to day or any day for that matter […] wala kaming (we have no) confirmation.  I mean it has to come from him or his representative, in this case, yung Atty. Topacio, di ba?” Velasco said.

“But so far, up to this time, wala kaming nareceive na (we have not received any) confirmation that he is really arriving or returning today.  We’re still waiting,” he added.

Pressed further, Velasco said that Teves’ brother, former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves, called him up and told them that even he had no confirmation on when the lawmaker would take a flight to the Philippines.

“But his brother called me, former Cong. Pryde.  He said that even he had no confirmation if Rep. Teves would return.  But on our side, we welcome the return, in fact, he (Speaker Martin Romualdez) is willing to provide arrangements to Cong. Teves just like any House member. He will be under our protection if he returns and proceeds to the House of Representatives,” he added.

There have been talks that Teves might return to the Philippines on Wednesday after his failed asylum bid in Timor-Leste.  This was revealed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who said on Tuesday that a reliable source who has access to flight information told him so.

Teves, however, denied this, saying that it was fake news.

READ: Teves debunks return to PH murmurs: ‘It’s fake news’ 

Velasco, however, said that they hope the ethics panel would act on Teves’ fate before Congress goes into a sine die adjournment by June 3.

“We hope the Committee on Ethics will have some action on it. As you know, we have no precedent here.  A similar situation has not happened in the House.  It’s really up to the committee on ethics to submit their recommendations. And then it has to be voted upon by the plenary,” Velasco said.

“So we hope that before the end of this session, there will be some action on the part of the Committee on Ethics and the plenary of the House of Representatives […] And then hopefully before the end of the session, there’ll be some action,” he added.

Teves has not returned to the country since his medical trip to the United States (US), which the House authorized from February 28 to March 9.  The lawmaker said he feared for his and his family’s security after a Special Investigation Task Group implicated him in the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.

The lawmaker has denied involvement in the Degamo slay, saying that he and his brother Pryde would not benefit from the incident.

READ: Teves ready to return to PH, face accusations but… 

Pryde Teves used to be governor of Negros Oriental until the Commission on Elections overturned the results of the May 2022 polls, crediting the votes obtained by a nuisance candidate named “Ruel Degamo” to the slain governor instead.

However, Rep. Teves noted that killing Degamo would not put his brother back in the gubernatorial seat and that they would gain nothing from it.

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JPV/abc