MANILA — Despite requests from his family and even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself, a lawyer of suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. said the representative will not come home from abroad until the government grants “certain requests” regarding his security.
Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio refused to disclose details of the requests Teves made to Speaker Martin Romualdez and only said they wanted to explain to the speaker “the complete situation with respect to the security concerns of Teves.”
“[The Speaker] did not mislead us. He said, ‘We can do these requests. We cannot do these requests.’ With that Rep. Teves could not come home yet,” he said in a news forum in Quezon City.
Teves’ lawyers said they were “not yet satisfied” that Marcos himself offered protection to the representative, who has been suspended because of his lengthy absence while Congress is in session.
“We thank the president for his concern. But the reality of the situation is that he cannot micromanage the situation,” Topacio noted. “We are not seeking special treatment, we are just ensuring his safety.”
‘Disorderly behavior’
Teves has not returned to the country since he left for the United States for medical treatment on Feb. 28, with his travel authority from the House of Representatives having already expired on March 9.
His colleagues in the House voted to suspend him for 60 days citing “disorderly behavior” for refusing to return home and perform his duties as a lawmaker.
Both Marcos and PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. were clueless on the threats raised by Teves, but assured him the administration will offer him protection if he returns to refute allegations that he was involved in the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight of his supporters on March 4.
Degamo was shot dead by several men at his residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, while he was distributing government aid supporters.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier tagged Teves as among the masterminds of the killing that supposedly involved around 10 former soldiers, who are now in police custody. (Dexter Cabalza © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
