Teves: I never said I was not in the Philippines

Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Besieged Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, constantly evasive with his whereabouts, hinted at the possibility of being within the Philippines.

Teves’ suspension from the House of Representatives has made waves in the news as his prolonged, unauthorized absence has caused controversy. Despite House Speaker Martin Romualdez urging him to return to the Philippines and divulge his whereabouts, Teves remains elusive, refusing to attend House hearings in person.

When asked on CNN what would make him return to the Philippines, Teves said that he saw absolutely no reason to ever return to the Philippines.

“Ano karapatan nila pauwiin ako? But I never said I was not in the Philippines. Tingnan nila kung maprove nila na nasa Pilipinas pala ako, I am deemed absent. Yan pa, isa pang foul ng House, if not, the whole House, nag-ano ng attendance, bakit deemed absent ako, present na dapat ako,” said Teves.

(What are their rights to make me go home? But I never said I was not in the Philippines. Let them see if they can prove that I am in the Philippines. After all, I am deemed absent. That’s another foul of the House. If not, the whole House takes attendance. Why am I deemed absent? I should be present.)

Pressed for where he was exactly, Teves merely said: “secret.”

“I am not a suspended congressman anymore, but I have always been deemed absent from the start. Why? What is their basis? I was not absent. I was in deliberations,” he said.

After his suspension was lifted on May 23, Teves has already attempted to attend hearings again. He was allowed in the committee on nuclear energy but is now allowed during the plenary session.

According to Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin Remulla, Teves was previously thought to be in Timor-Leste, as he had sought political asylum there.  The country, however, rejected his plea.

Teves has been tagged in the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and nine other people, dubbed as the Pamplona massacre.

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JPV/abc