'Nagkataon lang po': No collusion between ethics panel, ATC on Teves case, says solon
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon (Contributed photo)
There's no collusion between the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) and the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges. Ethics panel vice chairman, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon gave this assurance Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 1, following a meeting of the panel. The subject of the meeting? Taking jurisdiction on the case of the controversial Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who continues to be absent without official leave from the House of Representatives. That same morning, news broke out that the ATC had designated Teves--the alleged mastermind in the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo--as a terrorist. "There is none (collusion). In fact we were surprised na naglabas po ng resolution ang ATC (In fact we were surprised that the NTC released a resolution)," Bongalon told House reporters in a subsequent press briefing. He said the scheduled committee meeting and the ATC's terrorist-tagging of Teves was just a coincidence. "Nagkataon lang po (It was just by chance)." "So was it a collusion? Wala pong ganun. In fact kahit tanungin po yung ibang miyembro, they were surprised na mayroon resolution na lumabas (There's no such thing. In fact, even if you ask the other panel members, they were also surprised that a resolution was released)," Bongalon said. A panel member who was present at the briefing, Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., echoed Bongalon's remarks.