Teves returns to work nearly 3 months after surviving Batasan blast

MANILA, Philippines – Defying doctor’s orders for an extended rest, bombing survivor Rep. Pryde Henry Teves of Negros Oriental reported for work at the House of Representatives to keep himself busy and allow him to forget his painful ordeal after the explosion that killed six people and seriously injured several others, including himself, on Nov. 13, 2007.

“Being busy working will make me forget it (blast),” the 35-year-old neophyte congressman told The STAR after reporting for work for two days since Congress resumed session last Monday, after a month-long Christmas break.

Teves, who moves around in a wheelchair, wears black cotton gloves to protect his burned hands, which made writing notes am arduous task when he attended yesterday’s committee hearing on rural development. He also could not shake hands with people or use his cellular phone.

“I feel all the senses in my body that I don’t want to feel, all the unwanted pain. I really got depressed. And my (burned) skin (including face) is extra sensitive. When it’s hot I feel the heat and when it’s cold I also feel very cold,” Teves said.

Teves said 62 percent of his body sustained second and third degree burns following the bombing that claimed the lives of six people, including three of his staff members and Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar, who was reportedly the target of the bombing.

Among the fatalities in the Batasan explosion were Teves’ staff members Maan Gale Bustaliño, Dennis Manila and Vercedita Garcia, Akbar’s aide Junaskiri Hayudini, and Marcial Taldo, driver of Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, who was also seriously injured.

Teves’s doctor advised him to report for work in June, but he decided to work now. Anyway, with the hand and foot therapy he has been undergoing, he expects to be able to practice walking again soon and get rid of his wheelchair which he has been using for the past four months.

“By May, I could start walking, meaning I will practice walking again. But it could take me a year before I could go back to my normal life,” Teves added. He was wearing only his right shoe because his left foot was severely fractured.

“My left foot was shattered in 10 places. It’s all held together by screws. Hopefully, after 20 weeks (since Nov. 13) the bones will heal,” he added. “I’m still under heavy medication. And I still take pain relievers. The pain is terrible,” said Teves.

“Three days ago (Jan. 26), I had two shrapnels removed from my body. They were all concrete nails,” he said. The congressman said he will be visiting his doctor every month until May, “where there may be some developments,” he added.

Teves said he was excited to report for work last Monday, but was “surprised” to learn that they were still discussing the Cheaper Medicine Bill, which is now undergoing deliberations in the bicameral conference committee.

Upon the resumption of session, Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. greeted Teves, who took over the congressional district vacated by his grandfather Herminio, citing his dedication to his work. The young Teves had instructed his new staff to update him on the new developments in the House.