Rep. Felimon Espares, chair of the House of Representatives committee on ethics, on Friday shared the view of Speaker Martin G. Romualdez that Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr may face another disciplinary action should he insist on not returning home and continue neglecting his legislative functions.
“(Teves) “is already abandoning his oath of office as a member of the House where he swore to have allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines and to obey the orders of the duly constituted authorities,” Espares said in an interview.
Espares was reacting to the decision of the government of Timor-Leste to reject the request Teves to seek political asylum in the country.
Espares however said Teves “should still be considered a member of the House of Representatives despite his seeming abandonment of his oath of office.”
Teves was suspended by the House for 60 days in late March for failure to return to the country and face the Ethics Committee despite the expiration of his US visa.
Article VI, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution provides the House the power to penalize its members for disorderly behavior. The penalty ranges from reprimand, suspension to expulsion.
He added Teves’s privileges and immunities are also suspended, stressing that the Negros Oriental congressman’s status can never be used to evade justice.
Nevertheless, Espares said Teves deserves the right to be heard, stressing that “due process” is “fundamental.”
Espares also urged Teves to heed the appeal of the Philippine government authorities led by no less than President Marcos and his fellow legislators to return home “in order to be present and allowed to participate in all deliberations.”
The House has unanimously imposed a 60-day suspension on Teves over his refusal to return home to report for legislative work amid an expired travel authority.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa meanwhile decided to end the inquiry on the killing of the Degamo and eight others after 80 persons from Negros Oriental faced five hearings. The hearing also tackled political families—and rivals—in the province.
During the Senate inquiry, allies of both Degamo and Teves were summoned.
According to Dela Rosa, he will craft a report to recommend to prevent politicians in maintaining private armies.
Some personal matters about Degamo were also raised in the hearing, including the slain governor’s extra marital affairs, but Dela Rosa stopped the witnesses as Degamo can no longer defend himself.
In the hearings, Teves was willing to participate through teleconferencing but was barred.
The DOJ also did not allow the arrested suspects in the killing of Degamo to face the hearing so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.