Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. (Photo courtesy of House of Representatives)
MANILA – The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges on Monday gave 24 hours for Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. to personally appear at the House of Representatives amid his lapsed travel authority.
Committee chair Felimon Espares warned that disciplinary sanctions will be meted out to Teves if he refuses to return to work despite the expiration of his travel authority last March 9.
Teves, who is being linked to the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, has been out of the country since February and has reportedly refused to come back, citing threats to his life.
“As per approved by the committee, we will just inform you that we will extend our time to let our colleague respond within 24 hours na umuwi dito. But kung hindi sya makapag-appear (to return here. But if he cannot appear) personally in our committee, so the committee would really have its decision, the appropriate sanctions,” Espares told reporters.
Espares said Teves is given until 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. on Tuesday to appear before the House committee.
Teves has sent a letter to Speaker Martin Romualdez, through House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, asking for a two-month leave of absence extension.
In the letter dated March 9, the deadline date of his initial leave of absence, the Negros Oriental lawmaker requested the extension due to “very grave threat to his life and family.”
“Rest assured that he will come back as soon as the threat will be dealt with accordingly under our laws, and with the aid of the government,” the letter read.
The letter request is yet to be acted upon in the House of Representatives.
Romualdez has reiterated his stand that Teves should return to the country and report for work at once, saying “it does not sit well” for a House member to flee the country rather than avail himself of all the legal remedies available to him.
Romualdez also gave the assurance that he and the entire House leadership “will exert all means necessary to pave the way for Cong. Arnie’s safe return to the country.” (PNA)
