Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 17) — Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. refused to comment on reports that he was seen in South Korea amid the public inquiry into the murder of his political rival, Roel Degamo.
“For two days consecutively, some friends of mine have seen him [Rep. Teves] in South Korea in Lotte Hotel, eating in a buffet,” Villanueva said at the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing on Monday.
“I asked if they were sure if it was Teves indeed that they have seen. According to them I spoke to them four persons we’re talking about eight eyes na nagsabi nandun po siya at kumakain. Hindi ko lang alam if sigurado na siya po yun,” he continued.
[Translation: …who said that he was there eating. I just don’t know if it actually was him.]
He added: “I don’t know if alam na ng authorities [know this], I just want to share that information that was given to me personally. I spoke to one of the guys kanina [earlier] and you [Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa] were there Mr. Chairman, they were saying they have seen him.”
Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Dela Rosa, committee chairman, asked that authorities check with the Bureau of Immigration and the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to verify the information regarding Teves.
Dela Rosa then addressed Teves on the assumption that he was watching the panel hearing.
“Kung nasa Korea siya ngayon, you [Teves] can go to the Philippine embassy in Seoul and makiusap ka doon na pagbigyan ka na you can attend virtually kung nandoon ka na,” Dela Rosa said.
[Translation: If he is in Korea, he can go to the embassy and ask that they allow him to attend virtually if he is there.]
The committee unanimously rejected Teves’ request to attend the hearing remotely out of fear for his personal safety. However, an amendment in the Senate’s legislative inquiry proceedings allows witnesses outside the country to have their oath administered by their host country’s embassy or consulate.
READ: Dela Rosa: Senate panel rejects Rep. Teves’ remote attendance at Degamo slay hearing
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said that the Senate panel would welcome Teves if he appeared before them physically.
The congressman has been out of the country since February 28 and was suspended from his House seat due to his continued absence.
The DOJ has named him as one of the masterminds behind the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier claimed that Teves was in Cambodia.
“No comment na lang. It’s for me to know and for them to find out,” Teves quipped during his camp’s online press conference on Monday.
This came after Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva claimed that his friends supposedly spotted Teves eating at a hotel buffet in South Korea.
