• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. asked Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez that he be granted a two-month leave of absence, citing what he calls a “very grave threat to his life and family members.”
Teves, who is insinuated to have links to the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, promised to return home “as soon as the threat will be dealt with accordingly, under our laws, and with the aid of the government.”
He made the plea after The House of Representatives ethics and privileges committee gave him five days to explain why he has not shown up for work at the lower chamber, despite the expiry of his travel authority on March 9.
In a statement, Teves, who filed a two-month leave of absence starting March 8, said he has already been judged publicly, despite the absence of legal charges against him.
Teves further alleged that he has already been persecuted by some authorities, through the planting of evidence in his house and other properties.
My people are unlawfully arrested and unjustly charged, the solon said.
Teves and five others were recently charged for three counts of murder, over the three killings in Negros Oriental, in 2019.
I’m not away because of guilt, but I’m away for safety, Teves said, as he also claimed that some people either wanted to kill, or put him behind bars, for whatever benefit it may serve them best, citing intelligence reports he got.
He also asked his former colleague, now Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, to be open minded, and give him a fair trial.*
