Teves hopes Senate probe won't turn into an investigation 'in aid of epal-isation'
Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. (Facebook)
The Senate's inquiry on the brazen, March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo shouldn't be turned into an investigation "in aid of epal-isation". Thus, said Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. in a virtual press conference Monday afternoon, April 17, even as he rued not being allowed to attend the hearing earlier that day via Zoom. For Teves, it was the Senate's loss that he wasn't given the venue to speak about the issue at hand, which is the Degamo killing. “Kung pinasalita nila ako sa Senado, makakatulong pa ako sa gagawin nilang batas (Had they allowed me to speak at the Senate, then I would've helped in the crafting of a law), because it was an investigation in aid of legislation," said the suspended congressman. "Sana totoong ganun, hindi in aid of prosecution or in aid of epal-isation (I hope that's the case, and not one in aid of prosecution or in aid of epal-isation)," added Teves. "Epal" is a derogatory Filipino term for people who like to grandstand or hog the spotlight. The Senate Committee on Public Order chaired by Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa carried out the hearing on the ambush-slay on Morning morning. Teves, as per the Department of Justice (DOJ), is the mastermind behind the assassination. The Visayas congressman, who left the country on Feb. 28 and has refused to come back, said the senators participating in the probe should ask questions that would help in the crafting of a law. He said that the senators should refrain from "finger--pointing, and from shaming or slandering other people". Regarding his botched participation in Monday's Senate hearing, Teves said that it was Dela Rosa who invited him to attend. "Hindi naman ako nag-request na is isali ako sa hearing. Sila yung nag-imbita at sila pa nagsabi na pwede Zoom (I didn't request for them to include me in the hearing. They were the ones who invited me and even told me that Zoom was OK)," he said. Over the weekend, Dela Rosa said that Teves would join the hearing virtually. The senators would then decide behind closed doors to reject Teves' virtual participation Monday morning.