House Committee on Ethics and Privileges Chairman and COOP-NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares says the panel can take up the request to expel Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr., even during the ongoing summer recess. But that could be easier said than done, according to Espares. In a Viber message to House reporters on Monday night, March 27, Espares confirmed that his committee has indeed received the request calling for the expulsion of fellow House member Teves. "Per procedure, will review the document if [it] has form and substance/content, then will schedule a committee hearing kahit on recess kami (even if we're on recess)," he said. "But the challenge right now \[is\] \[i\]f we can master a quorum since the members are on \[their\] district o\[r\] area \[already\]\. Usually\, the meeting is executive due to confidentiality\," added Espares\. The committee has 18 regular members, including Espares. A quorum is met during a hearing when there is a simple majority of the members present (50 percent plus one). The House last held plenary session in Batasan Complex in Quezon City on March 22. It won't convene again until May 8. The expulsion request came from Pamplona town Mayor Janice Degamo, wife of the slain Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. Teves, who is being implicated in the March 4 assassination of Governor Degamo, is currently out of the country. He has refused to come home due to safety reasons, despite the expiration of his travel authority from the House last March 9. For his continued absence and defiance, Teves was slapped with a 60-day suspension upon the recommendation of the ethics panel.