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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Not invited: House exec thumbs down Teves' request to attend SONA

Not invited: House exec thumbs down Teves' request to attend SONA

Published Jul 10, 2023 09:09 am
Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Facebook)



House Secretary General Reginald Velasco has shot down Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves' request to attend President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) last this month. In a chance interview by House reporters Monday, July 10, Velasco was asked whether or not they would grant plea to be allowed to attend the SONA virtually. Velasco responded by noting that Teves remains suspended as a congressman. "As you know he has been suspended for another 60 days, and that will expire on July 30th. So wala pa siyang entitlement as a regular member (He has no entitlement as a regular member)," said the House official. "So unfortunately, we won't be able to send him any invitation because he is still suspended," he said of Teves, who has been out of the country since Feb. 28. The Visayas solon, who has been tagged as the mastermind of the broad-daylight assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo last March 4, has refused to heed calls to come back to the Philippines. But that hasn't stopped him from seeking to take part virtually in House functions, the upcoming July 24 SONA at the House of Representatives included. Even a virtual participation at the annual event is a no-no, said Velasco. "Kasi pag suspended ka you have no access to the plenary as well as Committee hearings. Yun. Yun yung House rules natin so we'd have to live with that (If you are suspended, you have no access to the plenary as well as Committee hearings. That's it. Those are our House rules so we'd have to live with that)," he explained. Teves made the request to join the upcoming SONA during a virtual press conference last week. Teves served his first 60-day suspension for "disorderly behavior" from March 22 to May 22. On May 31, just before the first regular session was adjourned sine die, the controversial lawmaker was slapped with a second 60-day suspension, again for disorderly behavior. On top of this, he was kicked out from his committee memberships in the House. Velasco is the highest-ranked civilian official in the chamber.

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State of the Nation Address reginald velasco Rep. Arnolfo Teves
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