Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. has said that he doesn't understand why House Speaker Martin Romualdez has been forcing him to go back to the Philippines at this time. In a Facebook video message posted past 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, Teves explained why he thinks Romualdez won't won't able to secure his safety back home, even if the latter tried. Teves is being implicated in the broad-daylight assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo last March 4. He is believed to be abroad, although his exact whereabouts aren't publicly known. "Boss Martin, hindi ko maintindihan bakit pinipilit niyo akong umuwi. Sa totoo lang gusto ko na umuwi. Kung hindi lang sa pagka-delikado ng aking buhay, umuwi na ako (Boss Martin, I don't understand why you're forcing me to come back home. The fact is I want to go back back home. If not for my life being in danger, I would have gone home)," he said in his video message. Teves shared how Romualdez--in an earlier phone conversation--assured him his safety once he returns home to the Philippines. "Sabi niya sakin, advice niya lang, friendly advice, kung pwede ba daw ako bumalik sa Pilipinas. Sinabi niya, proproteksyunan niya ako, pwede pa daw tumira sa bahay niya. Sabi ko, 'Maraming salamat Speaker (He told me, he said it was only his friendly advice, if I could come back to the Philippines. He said he will protect me, he even offered his house as refuge.I said, 'Thank you very much Speaker)." But Teves believes that being given security detail won't save one's life. He even cited the late Degamo as an example. "Ilang army, ilang pulis ang naka-assign kay Degamo. San na siya ngayon? Nakalibing (Degamo was assigned a lot of army men and cops. Where is he now? Buried underground)," he said. "Hindi nga siya na-secure ng sandamakmak na army. Sabay sasabihan niyo ako, kaya niyo akong i-securre, di ba? (A throng of army men couldn't secure him. Now, you're telling me that you can secure me, really?)" Teves told the House Speaker, a fellow Visayan. "Boss Mart, sorry, hindi ko kayo mapagbigyan sa hiling niyo na umuwi ako dahil hindi ko maaaring ipagpalit ang aking buhay sa inyong kahilingan (sorry but I can't grant your request for me to come home in exchange for my life)," Teves said.

"Kilala mo ako Boss Mart, kung gaano ako ka-totoong tao. Alam mo kung paano kita pinagsilbihan noong majority leader ka pa lang dahil hindi tayo nanalo sa pagiging Speaker. Nakikiusap ako boss huwag niyo naman sana akong idiin (You know how truthful I am, Boss Mart. You know how I served you when you were the majority leader, when we didn't win the Speakership. I ask you, please, do not force me)," he said. "Ayokong lumaban sa inyo dahil wala naman akong laban. Sino ba naman si Arnie para lumaban sa gobyerno, kay Speaker, at sino man dyan (I don't want to fight you because I'm defenseless. Who am I, Arnie, to fight against the government, the Speaker, and whoever is there)," he further said.
Romualdez has repeatedly asked Teves to come home and face the allegations.