
House panel mulls expulsion vs Teves
MEMBERS of the House Committee on Ethics has decided to recommend stiffer disciplinary action against suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr.
In a press briefing, House panel chairperson Felimon Espares said that Teves is already violating some House rules with his continued absence and expired travel authority.
“The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges unanimously decided to recommend to the plenary the imposition of a stiffer disciplinary action to our colleague, Arnolfo Teves, Jr., for violation of the rules of the House of Representatives, particularly Rule 20, Section 142 Substitute A and B of the Code of Conduct and for disorderly behavior,” Espares said.
“We exhausted discussions on this because this is not an easy decision for the Committee and we need to ensure the protection of the members of the House of Representatives,” he added.
Teves was tagged as the alleged mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo on March 4.
It can be recalled that the House has ordered a 60-day suspension against Teves for violating House rules and disorderly conduct after he refused to come home.
Also, the Department of Justice (DoJ) has since filed murder and other related complaints against Teves over Degamo’s slaying and other killings in the lawmaker’s home province, but Teves maintained that such charges are not true and are politically- motivated.
Espares said fresh and stiffer sanctions against Teves could be decided before Congress’ session adjourns sine die on May 31.
“If we can submit this recommendation by tomorrow…it’s up for the House committee on Rules on when they will put this on agenda for plenary action. I do, however, take note, that we only have two days left before the sine die break,” he said.
Meanwhile, House Ethics panel vice chairperson Raul Bongalon said stiffer sanctions would include expulsion and any other penalty that the committee may determine.
“That would be the remaining options of stiffer sanctions,” he said.
Asked if additional suspension would be imposed on Teves, Bongalon said the Constitution “only allows for 60 days at the maximum for suspension. We cannot impose more than that under our 1987 Constitution.”
Asked what makes Teves’ case so compelling that could merit stiffer sanctions, Bongalon said his embattled colleague’s defiance did him in.
“I am not saying that expulsion will be recommended, but this case is entirely different because this started with an expired travel clearance, then the controversy he is facing because of the murder of Gov. Degamo. Despite the call of the House leadership, from the very first suspension, there was continuous defiance on his part,” he said.
“We took action because the committee cannot be labeled as consenting to this disorderly behavior,” he added.
Prior to the announcement of the panel, Teves pleaded to his colleagues to decide his fate following the law and their hearts.
“Ang pakiusap ko sa aking mga kasamahan sa Kongreso, bumoto tayo sa naaayon sa batas at naaayon sa ating puso. It should be a real collegial decision, hindi decision na galing lang sa mando ng iisa. Ibig ko sabihin, baka bumoto lang dahil siyempre, baka mawalan ka ng budget, baka mawalan ka ng ganto pag sumuway ka,” Teves said in an online news hearing.
NEGROS SOLON WANTS ‘SEMBLANCE OF FAIRNESS’ BEFORE GOING HOME
Teves. remains steadfast in his decision not to return home despite the recantation of five suspects involved in the killing of Degamo and several other civilians on March 4.
During a video conference, Teves expressed that his stance would only change if he witnesses a “semblance of fairness” in the government’s investigation into the highly-sensational multiple murder case.
“Kahit may bumaliktad, walang bumaliktad, may threat pa rin sa aking buhay at wala pa ring semblance of fairness,” Teves said.
“Ang hinihingi ko lang semblance of fairness, then most probably uuwi na ako,” he added.
Five suspects who had previously cooperated with authorities during the initial stages of the investigation have now retracted their statements.
Lawyer Danny Villanueva, representing Joven Javier, revealed that his client r has withdrawn four statements previously provided to investigators during the early stages of the probe.
The first individual to retract his statement was Osmundo Rivero, who claimed in his counter-affidavit that he had been subjected to alleged torture in order to falsely implicate Teves.
Following Rivero’s recantation, three additional suspects, namely Rogelio Antipolo, Rommel Pattaguan, and Dahniel Lora, followed suit by submitting affidavits of recantation.