Will Senate allow Teves’ Zoom testimony?

MANILA, Philippines — Uncertainty hangs over the scheduled virtual attendance of suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. at tomorrow’s Senate inquiry as senators sort out the implications of his physical absence, which has drawn criticism.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate committee on public order, said he and other panel members will first have to discuss the issue of preferential treatment raised by the family of slain Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo should Teves attend the public hearing virtually.

“We committee members will meet this Monday before the start of the hearing to discuss that. We will come out with a decision as to whether or not to allow Cong. Teves to participate virtually,” Dela Rosa, speaking in Filipino, told dwIZ radio yesterday.
“As of now, we have not yet withdrawn our invitation to him and his confirmation (to attend the hearing virtually), which I allowed,” said the committee chair.
In his defense, Dela Rosa said the only reason he agreed to Teves’ manifestation to attend the public hearing via Zoom is because he knew that the congressman is out of the country.

“I wanted to grab the opportunity,” said the senator. “Instead of only hearing one side, the purpose of the hearing is to hear both sides. That’s why I intend to have him attend virtually.”
The congressional inquiry, scheduled to start at 10 a.m. tomorrow, is based on a resolution filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros in response to the request of Degamo’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, and other local chief executives to expose the root cause of the killings in their province.

Teves has been charged with three murders in Negros Oriental in 2019, prior to his implication as the alleged mastermind in the attack that killed the governor and eight other people last March 4.
“If they are after fairness, fairness is also the intention of the committee because the other side (Teves’) will also complain that it is unfair if they are not heard,” said Dela Rosa.

Still, he expressed understanding for the Degamo family, saying they had a point and that “it was also unfair for them that they are physically present while Teves is allowed (to appear only) virtually.”
Even senators are required to be physically present in the plenary, so the same principles should be expected of resource persons, he added.