Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnie Teves, Jr.’s continued absence in House of Representatives amid an expired journey authority might power the ethics committee to advocate his expulsion, panel chairperson Felimon Espares of COOP-NATCCO party-list stated Tuesday.
Espares made the response when requested how lengthy can the panel spare Teves from expulsion on condition that the lawmaker has but to return.
“We have to weigh on that [question on how long we can avoid recommending expulsion] because the question now is, what is the next action of the House. I cannot talk about that [yet], pero baka mapwersa talaga ang committee to recommend the most extreme…our most extreme, iyong expulsion,” he stated.
“Its decision depends upon the appreciation of the members of the situation, and updates on what will happen after the suspension,” he added.
Espares continued, “Iyong mga ganyang ginagawa niya…parang hindi na siya interesado.”
The House had twice meted him a 60-day suspension, with the second expiring on July 31.
Teves has but to return to the Philippines for the reason that Justice division linked him within the March 4 killing of then Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. He denied the allegation and stated that he can’t go house resulting from threats to his and his household’s life.
Espares reiterated that Teves ought to come house and report for work on the House.
“He needs to report here in the House. He left with an approved travel authority which already lapsed, so he needs to show up here,” Espares stated.
“Wala naman siyang rason para magtago kasi wala naman warrant sa kanya,” Espares added.
The National Bureau of Investigation already filed homicide costs in opposition to Teves in reference to the Degamo homicide, however a variety of witnesses have taken again their testimonies since then.
Asked if a courtroom issuing arrest warrant on Teves would immediate the House to take fast motion in opposition to him, Espares stated the House’s motion will nonetheless rely on a a variety of components. The ethics panel head stated the chamber’s jurisdiction is proscribed to the executive facet of the case.
“When an arrest warrant is out and he’s here, the House can only decide on the matter if there is a finality to the decision, like a Supreme Court decision with finality. But if the decision is yet to reach finality, the House won’t be able to do anything in that situation as long as he is here,” Espares stated.
“Pero kung magtago siya because of an arrest warrant, then the House has a reason to take action since he is evading the judicial process,” Espares added.
GMA News Online has reached out to Teves’ camp for remark however he has but to answer as of posting time.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
