House serves expulsion notice to Arnie Teves

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco says House of Representatives already served expulsion notice to former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves, Jr. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/53r5lkGYEx

— Llanesca T. Panti (@llanescajourno) August 17, 2023

The House of Representatives has served the expulsion notice to former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Thursday.

Velasco made the announcement a day after the House plenary, via a 265-0-3 vote, moved to expel Teves from its ranks due to disorderly conduct and violation of Code of Conduct amid application for political asylum, continuous absence and posting a video of himself on social media wearing boxer shorts.

“We have just released the letter to Mr. Teves Jr., it was received by his office, informing him, thru his office, about the decision of the plenary to expel him as a member of the House of Representatives,” Velasco said.

“This was served in his office a few minutes ago. This is the implementation of the decision of the plenary,” he added.

Prior to his expulsion, Teves had been suspended for 60 days without pay twice.

“All the staff [members] of the members of [the House of Representatives] are co-terminus with the term of the congressman/woman, so they will have to vacate the office, and the office will be taken over by the caretaker,” Velasco pointed out.

Velasco, however, said the House leadership has yet to decide on who will serve as the caretaker of Teves’ district.

“We are still awaiting the decision of the House leadership on who will be the caretaker of the district of Arnolfo Teves,”  Velasco said.

Teves’ camp had described the decision as “a dark day for the Rule of Law.”

“The proceedings before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges are nothing but that of a kangaroo court," Teves’ lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said in a statement on Wednesday.

“From the start of the proceedings, it bore all the hallmarks of an inquisition: the Committee was the motu proprio Complainant, making it both the accuser and the judge; Rep. Teves was never allowed to participate in the proceedings by himself, but only through letters of his counsel, who were never even allowed to present; the hearings, although impressed with public interest, was kept secret, like a medieval Court of the Star Chamber; and the final recommendation shows that there was never a bona fide intention to consider the evidence in favor of Mr. Teves.”

Teves, citing threats to his and his family’s life, has refused to return to the country since March after the Justice Department linked him to the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

Teves has repeatedly denied involvement in the crime, but has since been indicted for murder and other related charges over killings in Negros Oriental in 2019.

Last month, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) designated Teves and 12 others as terrorists.

Second chance?

Velasco could not say if Teves’ expulsion would mean perpetual disqualification from running for public office or being named in an appointed government position.

“We don’t have a precedent to cite if he is still eligible to run, that would have to come from the Comelec (Commission on Elections) ,” Velasco said.

“There is no perpetual disqualification under House rules,” Velasco added.

Velasco then said that Teves’ mockery of his designation of terrorists where he filmed himself dancing in boxer shorts did not sit well with his colleagues.

“What he did was a mockery of the ATC....it offended congressmen and women. Nobody has ever done that,” Velasco said.

Teves’ pursuit of asylum, Velasco said, also made things worse.

“According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, that is abandonment of office. How can you serve as a public official when you have an application for political asylum in another country?” Velasco said.

“During the whole process, he has to be in Timor Leste, and DFA told us that he is still in Timor Leste,” he added.

Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. Elizaldy Co, for his part, said Teves’ historic expulsion is a necessary act needed to be done to maintain the House’s integrity.

“The decision resonates as an enduring embodiment of the principles that guide our revered legislative institution. This bold step establishes a vital precedent, reminding us unequivocally that, as stewards of the people's trust, we are bound not solely by the imperative to formulate and enact judicious legislation, but also by the solemn responsibility to conduct ourselves with dignity, honor, and integrity," Co said in a statement. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News