(Atty. Ferdinand Topacio’s full statement on the expulsion of his client, ‘fugitive’ Rep. Arnolfo Teves of 3rd District of Negros Oriental)
“Today is a dark day for the Rule of Law and the dawning of a new age of the tyranny of the majority, where might is right and the prevailing principle is the Law of Force rather than the Force of Law.
“The proceedings before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges are nothing but that of a kangaroo court, to use a worn-out phrase. From the start of the proceedings, it bore all the hallmarks of an inquisition: the Committee was the motu proprio Complainant, making it both the accuser and the judge; Rep. Teves was never allowed to participate in the proceedings by himself, but only through letters of his counsel, who were never even allowed to present; the hearings, although impressed with public interest, was kept secret, like a medieval Court of the Star Chamber; and the final recommendation shows that there was never a bona fide intention to consider the evidence in favor of Mr. Teves. To make matters worse, while the Committee was overly strict in not allowing Rep. Teves to participate in the proceedings, it chose to disregard Section 2 of its own rules which provides that proceedings in the Committee shall be deferred if any matter under discussion is before a judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative body, until after final judgment therein.
The Committee has refused to heed this rule even after incontrovertible proof has been adduced showing that the issue of Rep. Teves’ designation as ‘terrorist’ is still under review by the Anti-Terrorism Council and that his supposed continued absences are subject of a complaint before the Ombudsman. As to his so-called ‘indecent behavior’, the Committee has chosen to ignore jurisprudence enumerating what may constitute ‘disorderly conduct’, under which Rep. Teves’ social media posts clearly do not fall.
Just like the indictments from the Department of Justice, whose neutrality has been severely compromised by its Secretary’s reckless disregard of the law, the action of the Committee, and the validation thereof by the plenary under the iron grip of a Speaker hell-bent on destroying perceived political opponents, the outcome is hardly unexpected. Having been liberated from the procedural and legal monstrosities of both the DOJ and the HOR, we can now shift the battle to for a where, it is hoped, we will get fairness and due process.”
