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'Fake news': Teves denies impending return to Philippines

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RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Embattled Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who is accused of masterminding the assassination of his rival Governor Roel Degamo. ABS-CBN News/file" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/03/22/20230322-teves.jpg"/><figcaption>Embattled Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who is accused of masterminding the assassination of his rival Governor Roel Degamo. <em>ABS-CBN News/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA <strong>(2nd UPDATE) </strong>— Suspended Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo &quot;Arnie&quot; Teves Jr. on Wednesday denied claims of his impending return to the Philippines, calling it &quot;fake news.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Fake News ang balitang uuwi ako. Sana tinanong muna nila ako bago sila nagbitaw ng salita,&quot; Teves said a day after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the lawmaker might return home on May 17. </p><p>(The information that I will go home is fake news. They should have asked me first.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/16/23/teves-may-return-to-philippines-on-may-17-remulla">Remulla says Teves might return to PH May 17, citing &#x27;reliable&#x27; source</a></li></ul><p>Teves&#x27; legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio also said his client only had one word as a reaction to Remulla&#x27;s claims: &quot;Heh?&quot;</p><p>Topacio added that the embattled lawmaker intends to come home, but does not know when.</p><p>&quot;Ina-assure ko po kayo na kung siya man ay babalik sa Pilipinas... ay hindi po namin itatago iyan. At bibigyan po namin kayo ng impormasyon na reliable, hindi iyong Marites,&quot; he told ABS-CBN&#x27;s TeleRadyo.</p><p>(I assure you that if ever my client returns to the Philippines, we will not hide that. And we will give you reliable information, not gossip.)</p><p>Teves&#x27; lawyer earlier said that the lawmaker might stay longer in Timor-Leste despite the denial of his political asylum bid. The lawyer said Teves&#x27; appeal could supersede a five-day notice for him to leave the country. </p><p>The House of Representatives, meanwhile, has not received any confirmation on Teves&#x27; possible arrival to the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;We cannot really speculate kasi wala pa tayong confirmation that he is really returning to day or any day for that matter,&quot; the lower house&#x27;s secretary general Reginald Velasco told reporters.</p><p>Velasco noted that Teves&#x27; younger brother, former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves, had told the House that he had no word on his brother&#x27;s arrival. </p><p>Velasco maintained that the House of Representatives was ready to provide Rep. Teves protection once he returns to work.</p><p>Last March, the House suspended Teves for 60 days over his refusal to return to work following the expiration of his travel authority to the United States.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/22/23/house-votes-to-suspend-teves-for-60-days-over-absence">House votes to suspend Teves for 60 days over continued absence</a></li></ul><p>Teves has been tagged as the alleged main mastermind behind the March 4 armed attack that killed his rival, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and 9 others. Teves said he and his clan had nothing to do with the killing. </p><p>More than 2 months since the slay, the National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday finally <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/17/23/teves-finally-faces-murder-raps-more-than-2-months-after-degamo-killing">filed the murder charges</a> against Teves before the Department of Justice. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2618982" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div><strong>EXPULSION POSSIBLE?</strong></div><p>The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, for its part, said the possibility of expelling Teves from the House of Representatives remained an option.</p><p>The panel is set to meet next week to discuss Teves&#x27; rejected asylum request in Timor-Leste, a day after his 60-day suspension lapses.</p><p>&quot;Pag-usapan namin iyan during our next meeting. We are going to appreciate that kung tantamount naman iyon for that action of our recommendation,&quot; said COOP-NATCCO party-list Rep. Felimon Espares, the panel&#x27;s chairperson.</p><p>But Espares could not say yet if Teves would be invited to the hearing.</p><p>&quot;The political asylum [request], that&#x27;s something that we will look into,&quot; committee vice chair and Nueva Ecija Rep. Rosanna Ria Vergara said.</p><div><strong>PNP ON THE LOOKOUT FOR POSSIBLE TEVES ARRIVAL</strong></div><p>The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, said it was ready to provide security to the embattled lawmaker if ever he does return to the country.</p><p>PNP public information officer P/BGen. Redrico Maranan said its Aviation Security Group (AVSEGROUP) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) have been alerted and tasked to monitor flights for Teves&#x27; possible arrival.</p><p>Maranan also said police presence once Teves lands in the country would only be for security purposes.</p><p>Asked where Teves would be brought if ever he arrives in the Philippines, Maranan declined to disclose details citing security and confidentiality reasons. </p><div><strong>— With report from Raya Capulong, ABS-CBN News</strong></div>

Suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. denied claims of his impending return to the Philippines, calling it 'fake news.'

'Fake news': Teves denies impending return to Philippines

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'Fake news': Teves denies impending return to Philippines

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 17, 2023 11:55 AM PHT

|

Updated May 17, 2023 06:18 PM PHT

Read More:

Arnolfo Teves Jr.

Arnie Teves

Negros Oriental

Department of Justice

Roel Degamo

DOJ

Jesus Crispin Remull

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