Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. questioned his colleagues, especially those from House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, as to why they have singled out his unauthorized absences from the chamber. Teves said he wondered why his record of being an absentee in recent days is being highlighted and thrown against him by the House panel, and yet there are other congressmen who have been absent and remiss in their duties. “Alam niyo mga kasamahan ko sa Congress, kilala nyo ako. Alam nyo kung gaano ako katotoong tao. Alam nyo kung paano ako magtrabaho. Alam nyo rin kung sino ang pumapasok diyan, sino ang nag-a-absent (You know my colleagues in Congress, you know me. You know true of a person I am. You know how I work. You know who goes to work there, who is always absent),” he said. “Itatanong ko sa Committee on Ethics, bakit si Congressman Arnie Teves lang ang inyong kinukwestiyon ang attendance? (I’m asking the Committee on Ethics, why are you questioning the attendance only of Congressman Arnie Teves?),” he asked. The lawmaker issued this remark in his latest video message posted on Facebook Tuesday night, March 21. The video, which was captioned "Hindi ako nagtatago (I'm not hiding)," was over 17 minutes long. Teves spoke about his absences following the motu proprio probe concluded by the House panel, chaired by Coop-Natcco party-list Rep. Felimon Espares, on his continued disappearance without official leave. The congressman, who is being implicated in the March 4 killing of his political rival, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, and eight others, remains out of the country. He maintained that his extension of his leave was because of “security threats". Teves challenged the House ethics panel to make public the record of the past absenteeism of all the lawmakers. “Ganito na lang para patas ang lahat. Bakit hindi natin ilabas ang record ng attendance ng buong 17th, 18th at 19th Congress para makita nyo? (It’s like this so it’s fair to everyone. Why don’t we release the record of attendance of the whole 17th, 18th and 19th Congress so you can see?),” he said. Even at the height of the pandemic, the lawmaker noted he was physically present in House sessions and would even go on duty as deputy speaker since his house was just near and other deputy speakers didn’t go on duty.