Suspended Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. on Thursday denounced the March 22 decision of the House of Representatives committee on ethics to suspend him for his continued absence without a travel authority.
He tagged as “unfair and illegal” the decision of the ethics panel to suspend him, as his 60-day suspension lapsed on Monday, May 22.
The House ethics panel is set to impose next week a new sanction against him subject to a vote in Congress plenary session.
In a virtual press conference, Teves recalled a phone conversation he had with COOP-NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares, the House ethics panel chair, where he questioned the supposed “collegial decision” to impose a 60-day suspension on him for his apparent neglect of legislative duties.
It took Teves, the suspected mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, a month to question publicly the decision of the House ethics panel to suspend him.
“Why did you say it’s collegial? I know that there are complaints about it,” Teves, who has been out of the country since Feb. 28, said.
House records show that the March 22 nominal vote was unanimous in favor of upholding the two-month suspension that had been recommended by the ethics panel.
“I cannot mention it here but there were a few congressmen who complained before the committee. In fact, they were forced to vote. Of course, they couldn’t do anything and I pity them,” he said.
House Committee Report 472, which recommended the suspension of Teves, reads: “Pursuant to this Constitutional mandate and the provisions of the Rules of the House and the Committee Rules of Procedure for the 19th Congress, we find and so hold that the conduct of Rep. Arnolfo A. Teves Jr. in staying abroad with expired travel clearance and his continued defiance to the orders of the House and the Committee to return to the country and perform his duties as House member constitute disorderly behavior affecting the dignity, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives, which warrant disciplinary action.”
But Teves claimed “some legislators were forced to vote in order to achieve a unanimous outcome, pretending that everybody wanted me suspended was good for optics.”
On Wednesday, Teves denied any involvement in the recent recantation of testimonies of suspects in the killing of Degamo.
Teves said in a radio interview: “Again… I don’t have [any involvement in such]. I didn’t [do] anything [wrong]. Anything legal, just refer to my lawyer, please.”
The lawmaker maintained his innocence, adding: “How can I be involved in that when I am far? I’m not updated with the news. Let’s stick with the truth.”
Teves was responding to Osmundo Rivero’s recantation of testimony and denied knowledge of the governor’s assassination.
