President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. urged Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves to return to the Philippines, and assured him that he will be given ample security.

While Marcos stressed that they did not know of any threat against Teves, he reassured him that full security will be given to him once he arrives in the country.

"Kami naman sa (We, in the) intelligence, the best intelligence, we don't know of any threat. Saan manggagaling yung threat (Where will the threat come from)? But anyway, if to reassure him, we will provide all kinds of security kung ano ang gusto mo (whatever you want)," the President said on Wednesday, March 22, on the sidelines of the 126th anniversary of the Philippine Army.

Teves, who is being linked to the killing of  Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, has been out of the country since February. His travel authority lapsed on March 9.

Marcos even offered Teves to land at a Philippine Air Force (PAF) base to ensure his safety, adding that soldiers would even be deployed to protect him from any possible threat, which he has been citing as a reason for not coming back.

"Mayaman ka naman, may private jet ka naman, e. Mag-landing ka kung saan mo gusto, sa Air Force base, mag-landing siya sa basa, papaligiran natin ng sundalo. Walang makakalapit ng isang kilometro.That will guarantee his security (You are rich, you have a private je. Land wherever you want, land at the Air Force base, we will surround you with soldiers. No one within a kilometer would be able to go near you)," Marcos said.

The President said now that he laid out options for Teves, he further advised him to return as soon as possible as the government will be compelled to "move without any discussions with him" if he won't.

"So we have made all of these offers pero hindi pa sya nagde-decide (but he hasn't decided). The only advice I can only give to Cong. Arnie is that habang tumatagal ito mas nagiging mahirap ang sitwasyon mo (if this keeps going, the situation will worsen)," Marcos said.

"Mas maaga kang makauwi mas marami pang option ang mangyayari. Pero pagka masyado nang late, wala na, mapipilitan ang gobyerno (If you can go home earlier, you will have more options. But if it's too late, the government will be compelled), we will have to move without any discussions with him," Marcos added.

Upon the expiration of his leave of absence, Teves wrote to House Speaker Martin Romualdez asking for a two-month leave of absence extension, citing “very grave threat to his life and family.”