NEGROS Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves yesterday appealed his 60-day suspension by the House of Representatives, saying he has always submitted himself to the authority of the chamber.
In a letter to the House committee on ethics and privileges chaired by Rep. Felimon Espares (PL, COOP NATCO), Teves’ lawyers Ferdinand Topacio and Joselito Lomangaya urged lawmakers to lift the suspension order and allow Teves to participate virtually in sessions and discharge his duties as a representative, in the meantime.
They pointed out that the principal issue of the panel against Teves is his “continued defiance” of the order to return to the country to perform his duties as a lawmaker which the panel said constituted “disorderly behaviour affecting the dignity, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives.”
“It should be considered that while Rep. Teves has not returned to the country due to his belief that his life will be in peril if he does so, he did not disregard, but instead continued to submit to, the authority of Congress, first, by invoking its power to allow him an extension and a leave of absence,” the letter said.
The House last Thursday voted 292, without abstention and opposition, to affirm the panel’s decision to suspend the lawmaker for 60 days because of his continued absence.
Teves’ lawyers argued that in the discussions of his acts in the committee report, “there is nothing therein that gives a hint as to how acts affected the dignity, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives and why the matter is sensitive and urgent.”
The Negros congressman has been insisting that he had no hand in the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo whose alleged killers have tagged Teves as the one who ordered the hit.
After the attack on Degamo, Teves appeared in a video saying he was in the United States for a medical treatment. A travel clearance issued by the House expired on March 9. He defied an ultimatum issued by the House to appear Tuesday last week.
Teves’ lawyers pointed out that before the embattled lawmaker’s travel authority lapsed, he filed for an extension until April 7 and later, a leave of absence for two weeks, but both requests were not denied.
“When these requests were denied, Rep. Teves did not disregard the authority of Congress but in fact, continued to submit thereto by insisting to participate in its session virtually. Such was, however, likewise denied,” the letter said.
The lawyers said their client has consistently “expressed his respect and recognition of, and submission to the authority of Congress.”
They said Teves could not provide evidence that his life was in imminent danger because “a belief that one’s life is threatened does not always come with demonstrable proofs.”
“Yet, everyone has a right to be cautious about the threats against he perceives against his very life,” the lawyers said. “The threats that Rep. Teves conceives may therefore be said as falling under ‘unavoidable circumstances’ which prevent his physical presence in the sessions of the House, hence, an exempting circumstance under Sec. 71, Article 1X of its Rules.”
