The House of Representatives is slapping a 60 -day suspension on Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves for "disorderly behavior". The penalty against the embattled congressman was unanimously upheld during plenary session Wednesday night, March 22. House Committee of Ethics and Privileges Chairman and COOP-NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares sponsored on the floor committee report no.472, which contained the recommendation to suspend Teves for two months. "The Committee on Ethics and Privileges hereby submits its committee report on the result of this investigation on the motu proprio investigation relative to Rep. Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves Jr.’s personal parent trip to the United States of America, with expired travel clearance and his continued defiance to the orders of the House to return to the country and perform his duties as House member pursuant to Section 7, Rule 1 of the rules of the House of Representative, which constitute disorderly behavior affecting the dignity, integrity and reputation of the House of Representatives," Espares said.
"After a thorough deliberation and observance of our process, the Committee on Ethics and Privileges hereby recommends to the House of the Representatives, the imposition of the penalty of 60-day suspension from the service upon Rep. Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves Jr. for disorderly behavior," added the panel chairman.
A nominal voting among the House members followed wherein 292 voted in the affirmative for the adoption of the committee report. There were zero negative votes and zero abstentions. Under House rules, the penalty of suspension on a congressman will take effect after gaining a two-thirds vote in plenary. This requirement was easily met. The 60-day suspension is considered among the more serious sanctions a solon could get; it's only next to the harshest penalty, which is expulsion.
Teves, who is being implicated in the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, remains out of the country. Earlier, the House issued him a travel clearance covering the dates Feb. 28 to March 9. He went to the United States (US) for stem cell treatment. His travel clearance expired, the Espares panel began conducting hearings last week on Teves' non-return as he was considered absent without official leave. Teves, whose whereabouts are undisclosed, tried to attend one of the ethics panel hearings via virtual means, but this was rejected by the panel members. The Visayas lawmaker has repeatedly turned down calls to return to the Philippines, saying he fears for his life. No less than Romualdez had asked him to come back, but Teves said he doubted the House leader's ability to guarantee his safety. A few minutes later, the House adjourned, signaling the start of a six-week summer recess.