Teves’ counsel claims House-ATC collusion in solon’s terrorist tag

Atty. Ferdinand Topacio (INQUIRER.net/Ryan Leagogo)

MANILA, Philippines — The counsel of Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. has accused the legislative and executive branches of colluding to pin down the lawmaker, as the terrorist designation was issued on the eve of the House committee on ethics and privileges’ hearing.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said this in a press briefing on Tuesday, after the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) tagged Teves and 12 others as terrorists — claiming that the principle of checks and balances are fading.

The ATC issued the declaration on Tuesday morning, while the said panel was set to discuss Teves’ continuous absence later in the afternoon.

“Talagang may kumukumpas dito, kita niyo, ilalabas nila ‘yong declaration na terorista si Congressman Teves on the very day na may hearing ang Committee on ethics whether or not recommending his expulsion,” Topacio said.

(Somebody is really orchestrating these moves, see, they released the declaration that Congressman Teves is a terrorist on the very day that the Committee on ethics will have a hearing whether or not recommending his expulsion.)

“Laging may pattern ‘yan eh, pati ‘yong misinformation nila […] napakarami pong misinformation, disinformation, coordinated attack ang iba’t ibang departamento ng gobyerno, at nawawala na po ‘yong check and balance eh — ang dalawang departments, executive at legislative, ay nagsasabwatan na po,” he added.

(There’s always a pattern, even in their misinformation.  There’s a lot of misinformation, disinformation, coordinated attack of the different departments of government, to the point that checks and balances are corroding — the two branches, the executive at legislative, are colluding.)

Committee vice chairperson and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon said that the timing of the ATC declaration was only coincidental.

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. and other panel members agreed with Bongalon, saying that they were only made aware of this development early Tuesday.

“There is none in fact we were surprised na naglabas po ng resolution ang Anti-Terrorism Council, nagkataon lang po siguro na naka-set ‘yong schedule ng Committee on ethics and privileges today, so as to the collusion, wala pong gano’n,” Bongalon said.

(There is none in fact we were surprised that the ATC released a resolution, maybe it was just coincidental that the committee has scheduled a hearing today.  So as to the collusion, there is none.)

Teves has yet to resurface after the House of Representatives  authorized him to go on a medical trip to the United States from February 28 to March 9.

The lawmaker said he fears for his and his family’s safety after investigators said that he masterminded the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Raul Degamo last March 4. 

Teves has constantly denied involvement, saying that he and his brother, and former governor Pryde Henry Teves, would not gain anything from it.

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