Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. (Facebook)

A "stiffer disciplinary action" awaits embattled Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. for his continued absence without official leave.

This was practically guaranteed by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges on Monday afternoon, May 29, even if it could not yet identify what this hasher penalty would be.

“The Committee on Ethics and Privileges, unanimously decided to recommend to the plenary the imposition of a stiffer disciplinary action to our colleague Arnolfo A Teves Jr. for violation  of the Rules of the House of Representatives particularly Rule 20 section 142 subsection A and B of the Code of Conduct and for disorderly behavior," committee chairman, COOP-NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon Espares said in a press briefing.

On Monday morning, the panel held a closed-door hearing to decide what to do with Teves, whose 60-day suspension for "disorderly behavior" lapsed last May 22.

Asked what this 'stiffer disciplinary action" would be, panel Vice Chairman and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon said that expulsion was the next harshest penalty as per House rules. However, he was to clarify that no decision on it has been reached.

"The stiffer penalty from suspension is explusion and there is another penalty that can be imposed, 'any penalty that the committee may determine', so yun na lang po yung natitirang options (so those are the remaining options). But I’m not saying na yun yung decision o recommendation ng committee (But I'm not saying that's the committee's decision or recommendation)," Bongalon said.

The ethics panel had recommended the 60-day suspension against Teves last March. It was upheld by the House member via unanimous vote in plenary on March 22.

The Visayas solon's woes stemmed from his refusal to return to the Philippines and report for House duty despite an expired travel authority. He left for the United States (US) last Feb. 28, and was support to be back in the country on March 10.

Teves is the alleged mastermind in the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

Longer suspension?

According to Bongalon, the panel cannot recommend a longer suspension order against Teves since 60 days is the maximum under the 1987 Constitution. "So we cannot impose more than that."

Espares said that whatever the committee's new recommendation would be, it will have to be voted on again in plenary by the House members.

The recommendation could be endorsed to the plenary either on Tuesday or Wednesday, with the latter being the last session date of the first regular session.

Teves has refused to come back home for fear of his life.