Find out what action House ethics panel will take vs Teves
The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges will be sending a letter to embattled Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. in order to make him explain his current absence without official leave.
Thus, bared committee chairman and COOP-NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares in a chance interview Wednesday afternoon, March 15 following a hearing on Teves' situation.
"Susulat muna kami sa aming colleague na mag-explain bakit hindi niya magawa-gawa i-process yung kanyang expired travel authority (We will first write to our colleague to ask him to explain why he can't process his expired travel authority)," Espares said of Teves.
"I think five days is enough [time] for him to reply," the panel chairman said, adding that the letter would written either Wednesday or tomorrow, Thursday, March 16.
Teves, who is being implicated in the broad-daylight assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, remains out of the country.
The House had earlier issued him a travel authority or travel clearance covering the dates Feb. 28 to March 9. Teves reportedly had stem cell treatment in the United States (US).
No less than House Speaker Martin Romualdez has been pleading for Teves to come home in order to answer the allegations against him.
Espares, who echoed Romualdez's call, said the ethics panel plans to hear Teves' side during its next hearing.
"So kung kaya sana talagang mag-report siya dito sa House personally, yun ang the best para tapos na rin tayo (If only he could report personally here in the House, that would be for the best since it will conclude our task)," the House leader said.
He underscored that the committee has taken jurisdiction over Teves' expired travel authority.
Espares said earlier in the day that he called for the hearing on Teves' travel authority in a bid to "protect the image" of the House of Representatives.