Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 25) — The House ethics and privileges committee might be forced to recommend the expulsion of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves from the House of Representatives over his continued absence from work since March.
The panel met Tuesday to discuss Teves’ status as the end of his suspension looms.
The committee chairman, COOP NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares, said the panel is weighing its options given that Teves has already been suspended twice.
The panel will meet again next week, Espares added.
The House imposed another 60-day suspension on Teves on May 31 for “disorderly behavior” due to his refusal to return to the Philippines and report for work. The suspension will end on July 30.
Under House rules, a congressman liable for disorderly behavior may be punished with a 60-day suspension or expulsion from the chamber, subject to the approval of two-thirds of all lawmakers in the plenary.
\”Sa totoo lang nahirapan din yung committee eh no,\” Espares said.
\”So yun ang iwe-weigh ng ating committee kasi nakaka-dalawa na. Yung leading question natin kung ano na ba ang the next action, so which in my part right now I cannot talk on that. Pero baka mapwersa talaga ang committee to recommend the most extreme…Yun ang pinaka, most extreme natin, expulsion,\” he added.
[Translation: The committee really found it difficult…So we’ll weigh the fact that he has already been suspended twice. The leading question is what the next action will be, but I cannot talk about that now. But the committee might be forced to recommend the most extreme measure which is expulsion.]
Espares said Teves, who has been tagged as the mastermind in the March 4 assassination of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, has not sent feelers about his possible return to the Philippines.
Teves has cited alleged threats to his life as the reason for his refusal to go back to the country. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Espares said should an arrest warrant be issued against Teves, evading it would constitute another offense for which he could be punished by the House.
\”Kung magtago siya just because merong warrant so may violations pa rin yan as member of the House. Kasi you are, iniiwasan mo or evading, evading the judicial process,\” the lawmaker explained.
