Told to explain his absence in 5 days or be suspended or expelled
The House of Representatives on Wednesday told Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. to explain in five days his absence from the chamber or risk being suspended or expelled.
Teves, who has been charged with three 2019 murders and linked to the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, has been in the United States and has refused to return to the Philippines even though his travel authority has expired.
Rep. Felimon Espares, chairman of the House committee on ethics and privileges, said the panel wanted to give Teves the opportunity to explain his side.
“It is a very simple but very important action,” Espares said. “Our move is to hear his side. Five days should be enough for him to reply.”
Teves’ travel authority expired on March 9.
Espares also echoed the appeal of Speaker Martin G. Romualdez for the Negros Oriental lawmaker to return home.
“We want to consider his side, give him an opportunity to explain. So the public would know that we did not neglect our role here while we consider our colleague,” Espares said.
He said his panel also sought to protect the reputation of the House.
Espares added that his panel can recommend disciplinary actions, from suspension to expulsion.
Teves said he refused to return home, saying he fears for his life and that of his family.
Speaker Martin G. Romualdez has repeatedly asked Teves to come home and answer the allegations against him.
On Tuesday, Romualdez said Teves called him from an undetermined location Monday night, saying he would not return to the Philippines because he feared for the safety of his person and his family.
Romualdez said he tried to assure Teves that he would be safe.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said he expected “a breakthrough” in the Degamo case in the following days.
In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo said they have gathered “material information” from the suspects in custody, particularly on the identities of the gunmen still at large and the possible mastermind.
“We are under direction not to speak on the background of the remaining suspects. We are pursuing a very credible lead on their whereabouts,” Fajardo said.
She said the PNP is working closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to collect more intel regarding the case.
As of March 15, four suspects are in custody while five suspects are still at large and believed hiding in the Negros region. One suspect—recently identified as Arnil Labradilla, was killed in a shootout with police. Police said he was a former member of the communist New People’s Army.
Local authorities have put up cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of the remaining gunmen who shot and killed Degamo and eight others in his residence.
Also on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Degamo family has asked that all prosecutors assigned to the province be replaced because of past complaints that were filed.
Remulla did not say if the Department of Justice (DOJ) would grant this request but assured the Degamo family that they would look into other cases of political violence in the province.
“We have received reports that there are 17 other cases that we need to investigate,” he said.
Remulla also assured Teves that he would be safe when he returned to the Philippines.
“We have many personnel available that can be assigned to him for security,” he said.
“What’s important is Teves returns to the Philippines and face the allegations because everything seems to lead to him being involved in the death of Degamo,” he said.
Degamo and eight other persons were killed when armed men entered his residence in Pamplona town, Negros Oriental last March 4. Seventeen other persons were injured.
Remulla said so far, three counts of murder and frustrated murder have been filed before the regional trial court (RTC) in Tanjay City against four arrested suspects and 12 others over the March 4 massacre.
Earlier, the Supreme Courtas already granted the Department of Justice’s request for the transfer the cases to the Manila Regional Trial Court.
“The SC knows there is a problem in Negros Oriental. That’s why it is better to transfer the case in Metro Manila. Here in Metro Manila we can have security,” Remulla said.
The Palace said Wednesday that March 16 was a special non-working day in the whole province of Negros Oriental to allow locals to have time to grieve and honor the memory of Degamo.