Teves son quits barangay post, provincial board

MANILA, Philippines — Negros Oriental board member Kurt Mathew Teves, a son of Deputy Speaker and Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., has resigned from his post after he was caught on video beating up a security guard in BF Homes, Parañaque last week.

Teves also resigned as captain of Barangay Malabugas. He served the provincial board as the elected president of the province’s Association of Barangay Captains.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Teves apologized to security guard Jomar Pajares.

“What happened is already done. Whatever the exchange of words were, I was wrong for laying my hands on him,” he said.

“For that, I offer my sincerest apologies. Apologies to all of you here and to the other party concerned. This incident is entirely on me, no one else,” Teves added.

He said that he is ready to face charges that may be filed against him.

“Having said that, I must respectfully resign from my office as a public official while I face this problem and give time to reflect on my person as well,” Teves said.

He promised that as a “public official, I will try to do my best. I will strive harder and come back a better person and a better leader.”

Persona non grata

The BF Federation of Homeowners Associations Inc. (BFFHAI) said yesterday it is looking into the possibity of declaring Teves as “persona non grata” in the subdivision, where the lawmaker’s mother resides.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the BFFHAI doubted Teves’ apology, saying he “managed to apologize to his political constituents in the province, but not to any of the offended parties, like the guard of the BF Homes community.”

The BFFHAI also took offense at the elder Teves’ statement describing some guards at the subdivision as rude.

Erring guards, according to the association, are “immediately disciplined, sent to the agency or dismissed if found guilty of any wrongdoing. And the case of security guard Pajares was noticeably different. He could be seen and heard even being deferential and respectful to Mr. Teves.”

Teves was seen on a viral video, taken by another security guard, punching and kicking Pajares.

The guard earlier said he did not allow Teves to enter the subdivision because the congressman’s son is not a resident and his car did not bear a BFFHAI sticker.

No contact

Meanwhile, the BFFHAI said it could no longer contact Pajares and this development has prevented it from pursuing legal action on his behalf.

“Apparently, he has eventually opted to choose instead the legal assistance offered by a TV media outfit, which is now keeping him in protective custody. Without the guard’s written consent and cooperation, BFFHAI could not pursue legal action,” it read.

It added that despite his no-show at work, fearing for his life, they are still giving him his salary.

“This is in the hope that Pajares will continue to cooperate with us, so that we can promptly file the case on his behalf,” it said.