Teves still mum about his whereabouts

Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. on Monday remained tight-lipped regarding his whereabouts, refusing even to confirm whether he was indeed in South Korea, as Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has claimed earlier.

To recall, during a public inquiry of the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee into the brazen assassination of Teves’ political rival, Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo — dubbed as the “pamplona massacre” — Villanueva said he had received reports claiming that the now suspended lawmaker was seen eating at a hotel in South Korea.

READ: Senate starts probe into Degamo slay, spate of political killings

“No comment, it’s for me to know and for them to find out,” said Teves when asked whether he was in South Korea in a press briefing.

To recall, Teves is being tagged as a “mastermind” in the Pamplona massacre, which he has repeatedly denied since.

Due to this, his location has been a lingering question over the past months since he has not returned to the country even after his authority to travel to the United States for medical treatment lapsed on March 9, citing threats to his own life and safety, as well as his family’s.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, had already sought the panel to confirm the information with the Philippine embassy in Seoul after Villanueva’s report.

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JPV