Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) — Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves on Tuesday issued a warning against House Speaker Martin Romualdez and his other colleagues as the lower chamber is set to decide on the embattled congressman’s fate due to his continued failure to report for work.
“Wala sanang personalan. At tandaan nila tayo lahat ay tao lang. Kung meron silang naituturong baho sa akin at mga konting bagay bagay na hindi close to perfection, ‘wag nilang kalimutan, marami din akong alam. Hindi ko lang alam anong mangyayari ‘pag sinabi ko lahat,” Teves told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
[Translation: Please do not make this personal. They should remember we are all only human. If they will point out my wrongdoings, or things that are not close to perfection, they should not forget I also know a lot of things. I just don’t know what will happen if I reveal them all.]
The House of Representatives ethics panel said it will recommend “stiffer sanctions” against Teves for his continued absence.
Teves continues to refuse to return to the country after flying to the United States late-February for medical purposes, citing threats to his life.
He was tagged as a mastermind in the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, which he has denied.
Teves said the panel had been one-sided in making its decisions as it did not allow his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio to represent him during the hearings. The congressman also was not allowed to attend the proceedings virtually.
He also claimed that his allies at the lower chamber are being silenced so that the “rule of the boss” will be followed.
Teves earlier called the ethics panel to investigate the planned joint venture between Prime Media Holdings, Inc., a listed company supposedly led by Romualdez, and former broadcast giant ABS-CBN.
“Kung magiimbestiga sila, imbestigahan nila lahat,” Teves said in a briefing on May 29.
[Translation: If they’re going to investigate, they should investigate everything.]
