Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. Is requesting to speak with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. so he may "explain his side".
Teves, in yet another video message posted on his Facebook at past 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, said: "Ewan ko papano, gusto ko sana kayong makausap para maka-explain ako sa inyo (I don't know how, I want to speak with you so I may explain to you)."
He was referring to President Marcos, who in an interview earlier that day cited Teves' implicated in the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
"Again nirerespeto ko kayo ng sobra, sana lang mapagbigyan niyo ako na makapag-usap tayo. Para ma-explain ko naman ang aking side (Again I respect you very much, I just hope you allow me to speak with you. So that I can explain my side)," said Teves, who has been out of the country since late February.
The congressman has refused to come home for fear of his life, claiming that some personalities in government have been "operating" against him.
"Again hindi ito tungkol sa murder, Mr. President. Gusto ko lang malaman mo talaga dahil Jan. 11 palang may operation na ang mga ibang tauhan dyan sa gobyerno laban sa akin (Again, this is not about murder, Mr. President. I just want you to know this because as early as Jan. 11, some people in government have been operating against me)," he said.
Teves held a press conference on that date and claimed that authorities were out to plant evidence against him, on top of other allegations.
In his previous video message Tuesday night, Teves claimed that the operation against him had to do with the e-sabong or electronic cockfighting issue.
"Nananawagan po ako muli Mr. President na sana naman matignan ang lahat ng bagay p-bagay na ito (I appeal once again Mr. President, I hope these things could be looked at)," the Visayan said.
Teves further said that he would find it "harder to reject" Marcos should the latter tell him to come home since he has "more authority" as far as securing his safety in the country is concerned.
He had earlier rejected House Speaker Martin Romualdez's calls for him to return home.