House ethics reaches decision on Teves’ absence, to divulge it in plenary

FILE PHOTO: Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on ethics and privileges has reached a unanimous decision on the refusal of Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves to report for work physically, but lawmakers won’t divulge it until the plenary.

Committee chair and COOP-NATCCO Rep. Felimon Espares said in a briefing with reporters on Tuesday that the report would be forwarded to the Committee on rules and would be deliberated by the plenary.

Espares said that the panel’s discretion not to reveal the decision is in line with committee rules.

“The continuing failure of Rep. Arnie Teves to heed the committee order to appear before the panel leaves us no choice but to wrap up the investigation in his case without his valid explanation. The committee has reached a conclusion by a voting, by a unanimous voting and we will transmit and submit our report at once and recommendation to the plenary for appropriate action,” Espares said.

“In compliance with our committee rules or procedures, however, the committee is not at liberty to disclose to the public the contents of our reports and the recommendations pending our submission and deliberation in the plenary,” he added.

According to Espares, they have given Teves enough time to report to the House — noting that it is not only the panel but House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who is urging him to return home.

Teves went to the United States for a medical trip last month, covered under his travel authority from February 28 to March 9.  However, the lawmaker refused to return to the Philippines despite advice from the Speaker, as he feared for his and his family’s safety.

A Special Investigative Task Group named Teves the mastermind of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo’s murder.
Teves denied involvement, stating he and his brother, former governor Pryde Teves, would not gain from it.

On Monday, Espares said Teves still did not show up physically at the House hearing.  Teves’ camp claimed that the lawmaker could attend virtually just like lawmakers doing videoconferencing for committee hearings and sessions.

READ: Ethics panel to make Teves explain absence from House despite expired travel authority 

However, this bid to attend hearings through videoconferencing and the request for a two-month leave were both denied.  Espares said on Monday that the committee is giving Teves a 24-hour request to attend the hearings to explain his side.

READ: House panel issues 24-hour ultimatum for Teves to physically report to work 

“The committee has given our colleague Rep. Arnie Teves enough time to comply with a direct order from the Speaker of the House to report for work at once.  We also gave him ample time to appear in-person before the committee and explain to the House members the valid reasons for his unauthorized absence from duty,” Espares said.

“Further we also gave him another chance to appear before the committee within 24 hours starting yesterday, March 20, 2023,” he added.

On Monday also, Teves’ counsel Ferdinand Topacio released a letter addressed to the House committee stating that Speaker Romualdez’s advice for the lawmaker to return home cannot be considered a direct order.

READ: Teves’ lawyer says no order for solon to come home: We can attend hearing online 

JPV/abc