House ethics panel no longer has jurisdiction over Arnie Teves suspension, says chairman

The suspension of Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. can no longer be appealed before the House Committee on Ethics, according to the panel's chairman.

Interviewed by GMA Integrated News on Wednesday, COOP NATCCO party-list Representative Felimon Espares said this was contained in a letter the committee has sent to Teves' legal counsel.

"We made already our reply to the letter of his lawyer informing them that the subject matter has been decided by the HR (House of Representatives), hence my committee divested its jurisdiction," Espares said.

Teves' lawyer, Atty Ferdinand Topacio, wrote the committee last month to appeal Teves' 60-day suspension, citing threats to the congressman's life.

According to Espares, any appeal may be made "in the plenary through a House member."

The rules of the House of Representatives states that "[W]hen a measure, report or motion is approved, adopted or lost, a Member who voted with the majority may move for its reconsideration on the same or succeeding session day. Only one (1) motion for reconsideration shall be allowed."

The House of Representatives voted unanimously to suspend Teves on March 22, the last session day before Congress went into recess on March 25.

Session will resume on May 8.

Teves was handed a 60-day suspension by the House of Representatives due to his continued absence in congressional proceedings despite an expired travel authority.

The Negros Oriental representative has yet to come home from a trip to the United States and asked for an extension of his leave due to "grave security threats."

Teves is facing three murder complaints filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in relation to killings carried out in 2019. He is also being linked to the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

Teves has denied the allegations against him. —KBK, GMA Integrated News