Rep. Arnolfo Teves
THE House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to expel Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnie “Arnolfo” Teves Jr.
The House adopted the Committee on Ethics and Privileges’ recommendations regarding Teves with 265 members of the Lower House. None voted in the negative while three abstained.
Coop Natcco Rep. Felimon Espares, the committee’s chairman, told the House plenary in a speech that the main basis for the recommendation was “[Teves’] continuous absence without leave” in the House.
Teves has been suspended twice for his failure to face his colleagues in the lower chamber and for seeking political asylum outside the country.
The House ethics panel’s recommendation to expel Teves, which received 265 favorable votes, 0 negative votes and three abstentions, was based on a number of reasons related to his refusal to resume duties as a lawmaker.
Compared to the panel’s reasons for recommending Teves’ suspension – first on March 20 and then again on May 31 — the committee this time took into consideration Teves’ designation as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council in its decision. This “reflects the discredit on the House,” the panel stated in its committee report.
In particular, the House ethics panel said it arrived at its decision after it took “painstaking time and effort to inquire with several concerned national government agencies” that could detail recent developments with regard to Teves’ actions.
The House ethics panel recommended Teves’ expulsion for the following reasons:
Teves’ ongoing and persistent pursuit of his application for political asylum in the country of Timor-Leste; Teves’ continuous absence without leave in the House of Representatives in violation of the House Rules; Teves’ designation as a terrorist by the Anti-terrorism Council-among other criminal charges which reflects discredit on the House of Representatives; Teves’ indecent behavior portrayed in social media which reflects discredit on the House of Representatives and diminishes the stature of the position.
“And the main basis for this recommendation is his continuous absence without leave in the House of Representatives by his persistent pursuit of political asylum in Timor-Leste. This constitutes abandonment of Public Office and violation of his Oath of Office as House Member,” the committee report said.
Teves, who has been repeatedly urged by the House and by the president himself to return to the country to face charges against him, is still overseas and was last located in Timor-Leste. He has said in multiple press conferences that he refuses to return to the country due to fears for his and his family’s safety.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla previously asserted that Teves is the primary mastermind behind the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, describing him as an “executive producer” of the plan. Teves has consistently denied this allegation.
