Ni NOEL ABUEL
Tuluyan nang pinatalsik bilang miyembro ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso si Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr.
Sa botong 265 pabor, 3 abstentions at walang tumutol sa rekomendasyon ng House Committee on Ethics and Privileges na patawan ng “expulsion” si Teves.
Sa privilege speech ni COOP-NATCCO party-list Rep. Felimon Espares, chairman ng nasabing komite, sinabi nitong napatunayan na nilabag ni Teves ang itinatakda na Code of Conduct of the House of Representatives at “disorderly behavior”.
“After a thorough discussion on the matter, taking into consideration fairness and due regard by giving due notice to the respondent, and on the basis of the substantial evidence acquired by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, this Committee, by a unanimous vote of its members, recommends to the House of Representatives, the imposition of the penalty of EXPULSION from the House of Representatives upon Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr. With this, it is now incumbent for this honorable body to decide whether or not to adopt our recommendation considering our steadfast commitment to uphold the rule of law and standard of morality in the House of Representatives,” sa desisyon ni Espares.
Kasama rin sa naging desisyon ng nasabing komite ang patuloy na paghingi ni Teves ng political asylum sa Timor-Leste at patuloy na pagliban at pag-abandona sa opisina nito.
“This, the Committee noted, has directly affected the constituents of the 3rd District of Negros Oriental, depriving them of the
representation they rightfully deserve from someone they elected into office. The prolonged unauthorized absence of Rep. A. Teves Jr. deprives the 3rd District of Negros Oriental of proper representation and undermines the efficiency of the legislative process. Instead of actively participating in deliberations on important legislative measures pending in the House, the representative refuses to return to
the country and perform his duties as House Member,” aniya pa.
Hindi naman isinama ng komite ang paglalagay kay Teves bilang terorista.
“When a Member of the House of Representatives is designated as a
terrorist, it poses a significant threat to the integrity and dignity of the institution. It is a serious and unprecedented matter,” ayon sa komite.
“Pursuant to the Constitution, the provisions of the Rules of the House of Representatives and the Committee Rules of Procedure for the 19th Congress, the Committee finds that the acts of Rep. A. Teves Jr constitute disorderly behavior and violate Section 141 (a) and (b), Rule XX of the Code of Conduct of the House of Representatives, and such acts are so grave as to merit the most severe form of
disciplinary action allowed by the Constitution in order to protect the institutional integrity of the House of Representatives,” ayon pa dito.
Magugunitang dalawang beses na pinatawan ng suspensyon ng Kamara si Teves dahil sa patuloy na pagliban nito at pagiging AWOL.
Tinawag naman ng kampo ni Teves na kangaroo court ang ginawa ng House Committee on Ethics at hindi kailanman binigyan ng pagkakataon ang kongresista sa mga pagdinig.
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