Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. has committed to virtually attend a Senate investigation into the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Thursday.
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Dela Rosa, will investigate the killing of the governor starting Monday, April 17.
“He has made his commitment through his secretary, communicating with my committee secretariat, that he’s going to attend virtually during the hearing. He has confirmed,” Dela Rosa told ANC’s “Headstart.”
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla will also attend the Senate probe. He is expected to share with senators the status of his agency’s investigation into Degamo’s killing.
Mayor Janice Degamo, the wife of the slain governor, will also be asked to attend the Senate inquiry.
Asked why Teves is cooperating with the Senate instead of heeding the call of House Speaker Martin Romualdez to come home, Dela Rosa said he doesn’t know the congressman’s motivation.
“But if we will say we can cite him with contempt if he won’t attend, I cannot do that because being a member of the lower house, we exercise interparliamentary courtesy,” explained Dela Rosa.
“Perhaps, he will use this as an avenue for his side to he heard by the public. And that is a good sign if he wants to attend our probe,” he added.
The Department of Justice previously said that Teves was considered one of the masterminds in the assassination of Degamo and eight others. The lawmaker said he and his clan had nothing to do with the crime.
Teves has yet to return to the country, more than a month since his travel clearance expired.
He was slapped with a 60-day suspension over his continued absence in Congress after being implicated in Degamo’s murder.
In the interview, Dela Rosa said the Senate investigation aimed to identify possible policy gaps.
“It’s very important for my committee to get his side,” the senator said. “Everything he (Rep. Teves) wants to say I am there to control the proceedings of the hearing.”
Dela Rosa added, “But the main purpose of this hearing is for us to identify policy gaps wherein these gaps might be cured through legislations.”
In another interview, Dela Rosa assured Teves that he will enjoy a “parliamentary courtesy” from the senators, but such treatment will have its limitations.
“We expect him to behave properly, he shouldn’t be unruly,” Dela Rosa said.
According to Dela Rosa, the hearing is very important to hear both sides of the issue.
“Otherwise, the hearing will be one-sided if we don’t hear from Cong. Teves,” he said.
The former police chief says senators are expecting Teves to clear his name.
“He will said what he wants to say, and I am just there to moderate and control everything,” he said while assuring that the committee would not be used for whatever purpose.
He said former Gov. Henry Teves was also invited, but declined for unknown reasons.
Others invited to the hearing are the DOJ, DILG, PNP, NBI and the family of Degamo. Resource persons on the previous killings in the province will also be asked to attend the hearing.
Earlier, Dela Rosa said the Senate probe on the murder of Degamo will complement the efforts of the DOJ which is deep in its criminal prosecution. He is confident that additional evidence will be unearthed in the Senate inquiry.
However, the chairperson of the Senate public and illegal drugs committee said they will focus more on policy issues that may be fixed through legislations.
Other relevant and material resource persons in the Degamo case and other Negros killings and other cases mentioned in the resolution will be asked to appear before the committee.