House ethics panel receives Degamo widow’s letter seeking Arnie Teves expulsion

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco on Monday confirmed that Pamplona, Negros Oriental Mayor Janice Degamo’s letter asking the House of Representatives to expel suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. has been received by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

The letter was referred to the Ethics Committee at 7:18 a.m.

“We referred it to the committee in charge, the Committee on Ethics and they will have to decide what to do with the petition kasi sila nga 'yung may jurisdiction dito,” Velasco said in an interview.

Congress is currently on recess but “committees may continue to work. So the Committee on Ethics can meet to consider this petition or letter of Mayor Degamo,” Velasco explained.

The secretary general also said the Ethics Committee may submit its findings and recommendations when Congress resumes session on May 8.

Teves has been linked by some suspects to the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, the mayor's husband, on March 4.

Teves has denied involvement in the crime but has refused to return to the Philippines from an overseas trip, saying he fears for his safety.

Last week, the House unanimously voted

When asked what effect Degamo’s letter may have on Teves' suspension, Velasco replied, “It won’t affect kasi that has been decided upon by the Committee on Ethics and the plenary on March 22. Wala, walang epekto 'yang letter ni Mayor Janice Degamo.”

Teves’ suspension will also have no effect on the services provided to his constituents. Velasco added that a caretaker for Teves’ district may be appointed soon.

“By practice kasi, the suspension does not affect the office nor the district, service to the district, the constituents of his district. We will, the speaker will decide on who will be the caretaker. They are now considering this order from the speaker. Hopefully, in the next few days, we will have a decision who will be the caretaker of the district of Congressman Arnie Teves during the time of his suspension,” Velasco said.

Form and substance

With the letter now in its possession, the ethics committee will determine if it has form and substance before scheduling a hearing on the subject.

“Per procedure, will review the document if it has form and substance/content then will schedule a committee hearing,” Espares said in a Viber message to GMA Integrated News.

Hearings of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges are executive sessions or held in private.

“But the challenge right now is if we can muster a quorum since the members are in their districts o areas na. Usually the meeting is executive due to confidentiality,” Espares added.

The committee, however, may conduct virtual meetings.

“It was provided in our committee rules of procedure that we are allowed for a hybrid meeting upon consensus of the members,” Espares said.

The House of Representatives also received a letter from Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio appealing his client’s suspension.

“We referred it to the Committee on Ethics, again Committee on Ethics and to our Legal Department for further study. Again, it’s up to the Committee on Ethics what to do with this letter from Attorney Topacio,” Velasco said. — BM, GMA Integrated News