House Speaker Martin Romualdez (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — No one, including Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., is allowed to disgrace the Congress, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said on Wednesday.
After the House of Representatives voted to suspend Teves with another 60-day suspension and stripped away his committee memberships, Romualdez issued a strong reminder to Teves, saying that he must be held accountable.
Teves was tagged as the mastermind behind the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine other people in the Pamplona massacre. Even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been urging Teves to return to the Philippines.
“We will not let anyone stain the integrity of Congress. There is nothing personal here. We are all doing our sworn duty and promise to the people,” Romualdez said, speaking partly in Filipino.
Romualdez again urged Teves to come home and face the charges against him.
“I would like to reiterate that as members of this House, we must be accountable to the people at all times and perform our legislative mandates with utmost competence, efficiency, effectiveness, integrity, and fidelity to the people’s welfare – nothing less. Let this be a reminder to all of us,” he said.
He emphasized that as representatives, they should be held to a higher standard. Teves, together with other representatives, must abide by the Code of Conduct.
Teves was slapped with a 60-day suspension after being physically absent from hearings without permission. The embattled lawyer has remained secretive about his whereabouts, claiming that there’s a threat on his life should his location be known.