House ethics panel eyes expulsion of Teves

Arnolfo Teves Jr. FILE PHOTO

The House ethics panel may be “forced” to consider the “most extreme” action against Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., which is expulsion, if he remains a no-show after his 60-day suspension ends.

Rep. Felimon Espares, chair of the House ethics and privileges committee, said they would meet next week if Teves would not report to the House for work by July 31.

Lawmakers will discuss if the House panel will acquire jurisdiction over Teves for the third time for his refusal to return to the Philippines and resume his duties as congressman.

“We might be conducting another meeting to acquire jurisdiction motu proprio … We will call resource persons from different agencies to get updates, and our committee will discuss it further. It might have to acquire jurisdiction again if there’s no Arnie Teves who will report here in the House,” Espares said.

In an interview after the panel’s meeting to discuss Teves’ case and other issues, Espares said they have the power to inform Teves that his suspension would end on July 30.

“We’re also requesting him to really report for work so that the committee won’t be compelled or forced to take actions like what we have done before,” he said.

House members to decide

Espares went on: “The committee is having a hard time too … But the committee might end up being forced to recommend the most extreme.”

Asked if he was referring to the possible expulsion of Teves, Espares said: “Yes, that is the most extreme … But it’s still the House members who will decide on our recommendations.”

Prior to Teves’ previous two suspensions, the House panel conducted a motu proprio probe into his refusal to return to the Philippines after his authority to travel expired in early May.

Teves is facing murder complaints for allegedly masterminding the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo. The complaints are still undergoing preliminary investigation and have not yet been filed in court.

In both instances, the House panel recommended a 60-day suspension against Teves for disorderly behavior.

For his second suspension, he was slapped with the additional sanction of losing his membership in several House committees.

Espares noted that the House ethics panel or its members did not receive any feelers or manifestation from Teves that he would come back once his suspension ended.

“There’s no reason for him to go into hiding because there’s no case filed in court yet, there’s no arrest warrant against him,” he said. INQ

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