President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (left) and Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. (Facebook, screenshot from Zoom)

Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. has reached out to a cousin of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in his apparent desperation to talk to the Chief Executive.

Thus, said the controversial solon in an interview Thursday morning, April 20 on ANC Headstart.

"Gusto kong makausap sana si Presidente dahil gusto ko nang umuwi (I want to talk to the President because I want to go home)," Teves told anchor Karen Davila.

"Kailan lang kinausap ko si Raymond Ablan. Pinsan ni Presidente, kaibigan ko yun, business partner ko yun (Just recently I spoke to Raymond Ablan. He is the President's cousin, he is my friend and business partner).

"Sabi ko (I said), 'Boss Raymond, can you tell your cousin if we could talk. Because gusto ko talagang umuwi (I really want to go home), ma'am. I miss home. I really miss home," the embattled lawmaker said.

He didn't share how Ablan responded to his appeal.

Teves, who is currently out of the country, is tagged as the mastermind of the broad-daylight assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo last March 4. He has rejected calls from the House leadership and even Marcos for him to return to the Philippines and face the allegations.

Teves, who has been reported to be in Cambodia and South Korea, has doubted the ability of Philippine police and military to ensure his safety.

In a previous social media posting, the Visayas solon also claimed to have contacted Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo in an earlier attempt to talk directly to Marcos.