Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. of Negros Oriental’s 3rd District, who has been suspended pending an investigation into his possible involvement in high-profile deaths in the province, plans to attend Monday’s scheduled Senate panel inquiry, but only by connecting via Zoom from an unknown location.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on public order, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, stated yesterday that Teves had informed his secretary of his intention to participate in the April 17 public hearing remotely.
Teves has still not returned from his trip overseas to attend House proceedings. Therefore he remains suspended.
He fled for America on February 28th, four days before Governor Roel Degamo and eight others were assassinated in a commando-style raid on the governor’s home in Pamplona, Negros Oriental.
Dela Rosa told ANC that Teves had promised to participate in the hearing “virtually” by interacting with the committee secretariat through Teves’s secretary. “Yeah, he has confirmed (his attendance),” the senator said.
Dela Rosa told Senate reporters via Zoom that she anticipates the Teves and the Degamo families to attend the session.
As such, he informed the public that his committee hearing would serve as a forum for Teves to provide his side of the story and a means of disseminating the relevant information.
Dela Rosa stated, “I don’t know what his motivation is (in attending the hearing),” adding that his committee chose to conduct the inquiry in response to the concerns raised by the Degamo family.
The Gamo family may feel that we ignored their complaint if we don’t hold this hearing. The killings (in Negros Oriental) are what prompted Sen. Risa Hontiveros to issue a resolution (proposing the public hearing),” he said in Filipino.
Dela Rosa claimed the Senate investigation could have been completed sooner but delayed so that state prosecutors could gather evidence first at the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request.
He said, “Since a case has been filed, we believe it is necessary to investigate since there is a resolution.”
Since interparliamentary politeness does not require the House member to confront the Senate investigation, the senator said that Teves’ confirmation to attend Monday’s hearing, albeit digitally, is a “good sign.”
Let’s pretend we must cite Teves for contempt if he doesn’t show up. Dela Rosa explained, “I can’t do that because he’s a member of the Lower House (of Congress).”
However, the senator cautioned everyone to refrain from using the committee meeting for political grandstanding or propaganda.
In addition to the Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police, and the National Bureau of Investigation, there are also representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government present at the public hearing.