Teves’ 60-day suspension ends today; fate uncertain

MANILA, Philippines — The 60-day suspension slapped by 292 members of the House of Representatives on Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. expires today.

The widow of slain Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo – who implicated Teves as the mastermind – may have to re-file the petition for Teves’ expulsion that she lodged with the House committee on ethics after it was dismissed on a technicality.

A possible expulsion of the defiant lawmaker will be unprecedented.

Rep. Raul Bongalon (Ako Bicol party-list), vice chairman of the House ethics committee headed by Rep. Filemon Espares, told reporters in an interview that they dismissed the suit filed by Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo.

“Pursuant to our rules, her letter should have been made under oath, that’s why the committee treated it as not filed,” he said.

Speaker Martin Romualdez nevertheless expressed warning and served notice to Teves, who is reportedly in Timor-Leste and whose request for political asylum has been rejected, that the most severe sanction may be imposed on him if he doesn’t come home.

“Should Cong. Arnie continue to defy the return to work order after the lapse of the 60-day period of his suspension, the House may be constrained to reconvene and consider another possible disciplinary action against him,” the Leyte congressman said.

“This is our recourse in order to preserve the dignity, integrity and reputation of the House,” Romualdez reiterated, in effect serving notice that Teves’ House colleagues may opt to impose the most severe penalty, which is expulsion.

The Speaker didn’t use the word expulsion, but this is the next step after suspension.

Romualdez, who represents first district of Leyte province, currently serves as the caretaker of Teves’ third district in Negros Oriental while he is still abroad and remains in hiding, even as authorities have warned him of an imminent indictment.

“Rather than evade investigation by Philippine law enforcement agencies, Cong. Arnie should return home immediately and face the accusation against him. I had repeatedly assured him that the House will secure his personal safety upon his return to the Philippines,” he said.

At the same time, the Speaker commended the government of Timor-Leste for rejecting the request of Teves to seek political asylum in the country, saying it was the correct course of action.

With the denial, Romualdez once again called on Teves to just go home, make moot his suspension at the House and face the charges in connection with the brutal killing of Degamo – their political rival in the province – in early March this year.

“His request for an asylum has already been denied, which only makes it proper that he return to the country. Otherwise, there may be another ethics committee recommendation for further sanctions against Cong. Teves,” he cautioned.