Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez takes part in the interface between the heads of states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and delegates of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) on the first day of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. In another development, the Speaker has said that the Philippine House of Representatives may be contrained to reconvene and consider another possible disciplinary action against suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves if the solon continues to defy the return to work order after the lapse of the 60-day period of his suspension.
SFMR ‘discourages’ Teves from seeking asylum
NegOr solon risks new action from House
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (SFMR) on Wednesday said the application for political asylum in Timor-Leste of suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnie Teves will “force” the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges to consider another disciplinary action against him.
“Should Cong. Arnie continue to defy the return to work order after the lapse of the 60-day period of his suspension, the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges may be constrained to reconvene and consider another possible disciplinary action against him,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Romualdez said such action is “in order to preserve the dignity, integrity and reputation of the House of Representatives.”
Through Committee Report No. 472, the House plenary before Holy Week break suspended Teves for 60 days because of “disorderly behavior” and refusal to return home.
The Speaker said lawmakers in the House of Representatives “view with great concern reports from the DOJ (Department of Justice) and the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) that Rep. Arnie Teves has applied for political asylum in Timor-Leste.”
“I discourage any attempt by our colleague, Cong. Arnie, to seek refuge in (another) country and abandon his sworn duty to serve as Member of the House of Representatives,” Romualdez said.
“Rather than evade investigation by Philippine law enforcement agencies, Cong. Arnie should return home immediately and face the accusation against him,” the House Speaker stressed.
“I had repeatedly assured him that the House of Representatives will secure his personal safety upon his return to the Philippines,” he said.
Romualdez repeatedly asked Teves to return to the country and face the charges hurled against him.
The same request was echoed by the committee chaired by COOP-NATCCO Rep. Filemon Esperas for him to show up as the panel discussed the complaint against him.
Teves has been linked to the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others.
AUTHOR PROFILE
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