Teves: No reason to expel me as House member

Suspended lawmaker Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr. of Negros Oriental on Friday insisted that the House of Representatives has "no grounds" to have him expelled, but he admits that it is a possibility.

Teves has now been suspended by the House for a combined 120 days due to disorderly conduct amid his continued absence from Congress.

“Walang rason para ako ay ma-expel, pero puwede nila gawin iyan through a vote, madali i-pressure mga kasama ko sa House, 'pag 'di ka sumunod, yari ka,” Teves said in a press conference.

(They have no reason to expel me, although they can do that through a vote. My peers can be easily pressured to do so because if you don’t toe the line, it’s over for you.)

Teves has been charged with murder in connection with the assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo last March 4. He has refused to come home due to supposed "safety concerns."

Teves has strongly denied involvement in Degamo’s murder. He also insisted that he cannot be forced to go home.

“Why did you suspend me? And twice at that? You are forcing me to go home when there is no case against me,” Teves stressed.

“May kasalanan ba ako sa barangay? May kasalanan ba ako sa Kongreso? Anong mahirap intindihin sa serious threats to life?,” Teves added.

(Did I do something wrong before the barangay? Have I sinned against Congress? What is so difficult to understand about serious threats to life?)

In suspending Teves, the House argued that his actions of continued absence on an expired travel authority from Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte “constitute violation of code of conduct and disorderly behavior warranting disciplinary action.”

Aside from suspension, the House also revoked all Teves rights and privileges as member of the House in said period, and forfeiture of all committee membership.

GMA News Online has sought the comments of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and House ethics and privileges panel chair COOP-NATCCO party-list Representative Felimon Espares on Teves' latest statements, but both have yet to reply as of posting time.

Teves has neither confirmed nor denied that he applied for such political asylum, which was revealed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla back in May.

It was also in May when President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. urged Teves to come home. Marcos said he was able to briefly discuss the matter with Timor Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak on the lawmaker's bid for political asylum, which was reportedly denied.  —VAL, GMA Integrated News