Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. (Facebook)
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Tuesday, April 18, said that four persons have reiterated their claim that they saw Negros Oriental 3rd Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. in a South Korean hotel a few days ago.
He said they sent a picture of Teves Jr. to him and that one of them, a lady pastor, was very near to the congressman on their way to get their cup of coffee.
Teves Jr. had no mask on, Villanueva said, quoting the pastor.
But House Deputy Majority Leader Jose ‘’Bong’’ Teves of TGP Party-list wrote Senator Ronald ‘’Bato’’ dela Rosa that he and members of a House committee were in South Korea on official business from April 12 to April 16.
TGP Party-list Rep. Teves is not related to Teves Jr. They also do not look even remotely alike.
The trip was authorized by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, he added.
Dela Rosa directed his committee staff to ask the Philippine Embassy in South Korea to check on the veracity of the information.
On Monday, April 17, the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee chaired by Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa denied Teves Jr.'s request that he be allowed to give his side virtually to the committee in relation to the brazen assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo last March 4.
Degamo’s widow, Pamplona town Mayor Janice Degamo, objected to the requested virtual appearance of Teves, saying it is unfair since she and other victims of political harassment and killing in Negros Oriental appeared physically before the Senate committee.
Dela Rosa said members of his committee unanimously rejected Teves’ requested because they do not know where he is.
He said the committee could not enforce a probable contempt order since Teves Jr.s whereabouts is not known.
In a statement before the Dela Rosa committee, Mayor Degamo demanded that those who had a hand in the murder of her husband and seven others killed in their residence be sent to jail.
She also emphasized that peace and order should reign in her province which is now controlled by armed groups.
Romualdez had asked Congressman Arnolfo Teves to return to the Philippines since his official stay to the US has lapsed.
Teves was later reported to be in Cambodia.