Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (File photo)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Wednesday there is no threat to the life of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. based on the intelligence information the Office of the President has been receiving.
"Ganoon pa rin ang sinasabi niya may banta daw sa buhay niya. Kami naman sa (He still says that there is a threat to his life. We are in) intelligence, the best intelligence we have is that we are not – we don’t know of any threat. Saan manggagaling ‘yung threat? (Where does the threat come from),” Marcos told reporters.
The President assured Teves that his administration is willing to provide all kinds of security for him, urging the legislator to come home and face the criminal charges against him.
Teves, who is being linked to the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, has been out of the country since February and has reportedly refused to come back, citing threats to his life.
“But anyway, if to reassure him, we’ll provide all kinds of security kung anong gusto mo. Mayaman ka naman. May private jet ka naman eh. Mag-landing ka kung saan mo gusto, papaligiran – sa Air Force base. Mag-landing siya sa Basa, papaligiran natin ng sundalo, walang makalapit na isang kilometro. So that – that will guarantee his security (You're rich anyway. You have a private jet. You could land anywhere you want – on the Air Force base in Basa. You will be surrounded with soldiers to ensure your security and no one will get near you),” Marcos said.
He said Teves would have more options for his defense if he comes home sooner, warning that the government would have to "move without any discussions with him" if it is too late.
“We have made all of these offers pero syempre hindi pa siya nagde-decide (but he still has not decided yet). But the advice, the only advice I can give to Congressman Arnie is that habang tumatagal ito, mas nagiging mahirap ang sitwasyon mo. So mas maaga kang makauwi, mas marami pang option ang mangyayari (the longer this takes, the trickier the situation becomes. So the earlier you come home, the more options you would have),” he said.
On Tuesday, Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges has reached a decision on Teves' unauthorized absence without official leave.
"I commend the Chairman and the committee members for acting expeditiously on the case, in consonance with the Committee's mandate and in compliance with the Rules of the House to punish its members for disorderly behavior," Romualdez said. "Kinikilala at nirerespeto po natin ang lahat ng karapatan ni Congressman Arnie bilang House member. Kaya naman binigyan natin siya ng pagkakataon para umuwi at linawin ang lahat ng isyung kinakaharap niya ngayon (We recognize and respect all the rights of Congressman Arnie as a House member. That is why we gave him a chance to return and clarify all the issues that he is facing right now)."
Romualdez has reiterated his call for Teves to come home after the expiration of his travel authority on March 9, assuring him that the chamber would exert all possible means to secure his safety.
He said the Ethics Committee is ready to submit its report and recommendation for plenary action.
"The decision on Congressman Arnie's case now lies at the hands of his fellow House members, voting as an institution," he said. "Rest assured that the House of Representatives will render its decision on this case observing due process and fully cognizant of Congressman Arnie's rights, but with the best interest of the nation in mind." (PNA)
