Teves ready to face Senate probe by Zoom

MANILA, Philippines — Still far from reach and location unknown, suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. intends to attend Monday’s scheduled Senate panel inquiry into his implication in high-profile murders in the province, but only through Zoom.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who chairs the Senate committee on public order, revealed yesterday that Teves already sent word through his secretary of his plan to virtually attend the public hearing on April 17.

Teves remains suspended by the House of Representatives for refusing to return from abroad and attend Congress sessions.

He left for the United States on Feb. 28, four days before the commando-style attack that killed then-governor Roel Degamo and eight other people at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.

“He (Teves) has made his commitment through his secretary, communicating with my committee secretariat, that he is going to attend virtually during the hearing,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with ANC. “Yeah, he has confirmed (his attendance),” the senator added.

In an interview with Senate reporters via Zoom, Dela Rosa confirmed that they are expecting the attendance to the hearing of both sides – the Teves and Degamo families.

As such, he assured the public that his committee hearing will be an avenue not only for Teves to air his side of the issues, but to get to the facts of the matter out to the public.

“I don’t know what his motivation is (in attending the hearing),” said Dela Rosa, noting that his committee decided to conduct the inquiry to address the complaints of the Degamo family.

“(Without this hearing), the family of the deceased (Degamo) might say that we just neglected their complaint. The reason why Sen. Risa Hontiveros came out with a resolution (proposing the public hearing), is because of the killings that are happening (in Negros Oriental),” he explained in Filipino.

Dela Rosa said the Senate probe could have been done earlier, but his committee had to give in to the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for time in order for state prosecutors to build up a case first.

“Now that a case has been filed, we deem it proper that we have to conduct an investigation because there is a resolution pertaining to it,” he said.

The senator added that Teves’ confirmation to attend Monday’s hearing, even virtually, is “a good sign” since interparliamentary courtesy cannot compel the House member to face the Senate probe.

“Let’s say we cite him (Teves) in contempt if he doesn’t attend. I can’t do that because he’s a member of the Lower House (of Congress),” said Dela Rosa.

But the senator warned all parties not to use the committee hearing for political propaganda or grandstanding.

Also attending the public hearing are representatives from the DOJ, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation.

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