Rep. Arnie Teves, pinatalsik na sa Kamara

TINANGGAL  na ng Kamara si Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr., mula sa Kamara dahil sa “disorderly behavior” at “for violation of the Code of Conduct of the House of Representatives.”

Sa botong 265-0-3, ipinasa sa plenary ang rekomendasyon ng House Committee on Ethics and Privileges na patawan ng pinakamabigat na parusang expulsion si Teves.

Sa kanilang report sa plenary, inihayag ng komite ang malinaw at hindi maitatangging ebidensiya na nilabag ni Teves ang kanyang Oath of Office at nagpakita umano ito ng disorderly behavior.

Ilan sa malinaw na ginawang paglabag ng mambabatas ang patuloy na pagtatangka nitong makakuha ng political asylum sa Timor-Leste at ang mahaba at unjustified absence nito na nangangahulugan nang abandonment ng kanyang opisina.

“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. All these actuations of a legislative district representative weakens the institution’s effectiveness in serving the public and tarnishes the integrity and reputation of the House,” paliwanag ng komite.

Sa Committee Report No. 660, kinumpirma ng komite na nag-aplay si Rep. A. Teves, Jr. ng political asylum sa Timor-Leste na tinanggihan ng naturang bansa dahil “no facts are known to confirm the existence of any kind of persecution or serious threat to his citizen’s rights, freedom and guarantees.”

Ang tatlong mambabatas na nag-abstain sa pagboto ay sina ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Party List Rep. Arlene Brosas at Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel. (Ara Romero)