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Teves camp accuses DOJ of 'Lutong Macau': 'No semblance of fairness'

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RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. gives a statement regarding alleged threats his camp discovered back in January. Courtesy of Arnolfo Teves Jr. Facebook page" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/03/22/20230322-teves.jpg"/><figcaption>Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. gives a statement regarding alleged threats his camp discovered back in January. Courtesy of Arnolfo Teves Jr. Facebook page</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA (UPDATED)— The camp of suspended lawmaker Arnolfo Teves, Jr. on Monday claimed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has already prejudged his supposed involvement in the death of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/17/23/rep-teves-barred-from-joining-senate-probe-virtually">Rep. Teves barred from attending Senate probe virtually</a></li></ul>Both the lawmaker and his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said this was the reason why the DOJ is &quot;minimizing&quot; the recantation of some witnesses. &quot;Baka naman pagdating sa preliminary investigation ay Lutong Macau na yan kahit anong mangyari, kahit sinong bumaliktad, mapatunayan namin during preliminary investigation ay luto na, gawa na yung desisyon na may probable cause,&quot; said Topacio.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/26/23/5-degamo-slay-suspects-bumaligtad-sa-pahayag">5 Degamo slay suspects bumaligtad sa pahayag</a></li></ul>&quot;Hindi pa nasisimulan ang kaso, wala pang nakasampa sa korte, sabi na ni Bonjing 99 percent solved [na]. How can a case be 99 percent solved kung di pa nasisimulan? Uulitin ko, kumbaga sa basketball hindi pa nagsisimula yung laro, may panalo na,&quot; Teves said.Teves said he believes the DOJ will not be fair.&quot;Wala pa ring semblance of fairness. Again, ang hinihingi ko lang, semblance of fairness. Hanggang di binabawi ni Bonjing yung sabi niyang 99 percent solved, I will not see a semblance of fairness,&quot; Teves said.Topacio also said they were not allowed to participate in Monday&#x27;s hearing of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges regarding Teves&#x27; case.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/23/23/house-panel-to-probe-teves-unauthorized-absence">House panel to probe Rep. Teves&#x27; continued &#x27;unauthorized&#x27; absence on May 29</a></li></ul>&quot;Nagpapasalamat naman ako sa committee that they had the grace and courtesy na ipatawag ako sa loob at sabihin sa akin personal na ang kanilang kapasyahan ay &#x27;wag pahintulutan si Cong. Teves na mag-appear via Zoom. Gusto nila ay physical o personal, at he cannot be represented by counsel. Although we take exception to that,&quot; Topacio said. &quot;Palagay ko ay tapos na ang usapan namin dito, at we will just await whatever action this committee takes,&quot; he added.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/25/23/doj-to-probe-torture-claims-of-degamo-slay-suspects">Justice dept to probe torture claims of Degamo slay suspects</a></li></ul>Committee Chair, COOP NATCCO Party List Rep. Felimon Espares justified their decision not to allow Teves to participate via electronic platform.&quot;Before we proceed and start with our meeting, the decision obtained from this committee, that the members unanimously decided again that we are going to sustain our rules not to allow respondent Arnie A. Teves sa Zoom because we really require the personal appearance of our respondent. And this is always pursuant and consistent with the rules of the House of Representatives and the rules of Committee on ethics and privileges,&quot; he said. &quot;We exhausted our discussions on this because it’s not an easy decision for the committee because we are all members and we are willing to ensure appropriate protection of our colleagues also here in the House of Representatives,&quot; he added.Espares maintained this is consistent with precedents and said Teves is not being singled out.Committee Vice Chair, Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, meanwhile, explained why Topacio was not allowed to participate in the proceeding.&quot;First, hindi talaga siya invited dito sa Committee on Ethics and he wanted to appear on behalf of Cong. Teves. So we accommodated him. We told him that based on the rules and allow me to cite this that when the witness is accompanied by a counsel during a hearing, the counsel shall remain in an advisory or consultative role throughout the hearing. His statements and answers to questions propounded shall be given personally by the witness. So considering the absence of Rep. Teves Jr, we cannot allow him to participate in the committee hearing... Just to clarify,&quot; Bongalon said.Teves insisted on his right to be heard by the ethics committee and warned that the hearing may be one-sided.&quot;Last time pa lang sinabi ko na kay [Felimon] Espares, &#x27;Boss, anong mahirap intindihin sa... serious threat to life?&#x27; Hanggang ngayon, bakit sila nagpipilit na magpakita ako physically? Hindi ko rin alam bakit nakikisali ang Kongreso sa panawagan ni Bonjing, [Benjamin] Abalos, at ni Presidente na magpakita ako physically dati pa. Wala naman ako warrant, wala naman akong kaso, bakit ko kailangan magpakita physically?&quot; the lawmaker said.Teves believes that the ethics proceeding is being used to make him come back to the country, insinuating that there is a conspiracy against him.<div>Teves vs Romualdez</div>The lawmaker also did not mince words when asked about House Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying he has an ever greater offense.&quot;Kung mag-uusap kami ni Romualdez, tatanungin ko siya: &#x27;Ano&#x27;ng mas malaking kasalanan, &#x27;yung nag-absent ka ng 13 days—nagpaalam ka pa hindi lang pinayagan—or &#x27;yung nakinegosyo ka sa ABS-CBN gamit &#x27;yung Prime Media holdings na ikaw naman &#x27;yung naga-apruba o kasama ka sa naga-apruba ng prangkisa ng mga media franchises?&#x27;&quot; said Teves.He added that what Romualdez did was on the bounds of a &quot;conduct unbecoming of a public official whether appointed or elected.&quot;The lawmaker was referring to the recent joint venture between Prime Media and ABS-CBN &quot;focusing mainly on content creation and production not for free TV broadcast.&quot;Prime Media President Manolito Manalo noted in a statement Monday that &quot;ABS-CBN will not be involved in Prime’s or Philippine Collective Media Company’s operations.&quot;“The objective of the JV is to provide accurate and balanced news and information to the country and public service. The content produced by the joint venture will be distributed to radio, cable tv and other platforms, including the stations under Philippine Collective Media Company (PCMC),&quot; Manalo said, according to Prime Media in a disclosure to the stock market.&quot;The business model is similar to various local studios and production companies but the content we will produce are not for free TV broadcast.”Teves said he would ask the ethics committee why they would not investigate the House Speaker over the development, a call Espares sidestepped.&quot;We will take that. But as of this time, wala talaga kaming information pa doon unless na mag-surface yun. Di naman pwede yun mag-single out dito. Again, wala pong o even the members any information with regards to that matter. And hirap naman yun na we were going na pangunahan namin unless na may katotohanan yun,&quot; Espares said.&quot;Dito sa House kasi, with regards to the disciplinary action of the members, ang pagkuha ng jurisdiction could be filed by the member or the committee, from the committee on rules, from the Speaker and from the non-member of the House as long as they will conform with the form and content. So, kinu-consider naman dito. Then we really handle that whatever complaints,&quot; he added.Teves expressed concern that he is supposedly being used to divert public attention from other pressing national concerns.&quot;Sana lang, &#x27;wag na naman ito gawing... panakip-butas sa mga isyu na dapat talakayin... Matabunan na naman isyu ng ABS-CBN, asukal, mahal na bilihin, at gasolina,&quot; he said<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/23/23/abs-cbn-announces-changes-for-teleradyo/?utm_campaign=sharedpost">ABS-CBN announces changes for TeleRadyo</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/28/23/marcos-signs-executive-order-creating-inter-agency-committee-on-inflation">Marcos signs executive order creating inter-agency committee on inflation</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/29/23/gasoline-hike-kerosene-rollback-set-for-may-30">Gasoline hike, kerosene rollback set for May 30</a></li></ul><div>Stiffer penalties</div>Following their closed door session, the ethics committee recommended to the House of Representatives that it impose stiffer penalties on Teves as the lawmaker continues to stay overseas with an expired travel authority.The panel reconvened with representatives from the Commission on Elections, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs, Civil Service Commission and Philippine National Police in attendance.The committee&#x27;s proceedings are confidential so Espares said he could not give details of the penalties.The House is constitutionally empowered to discipline its members, but it needs the 2/3 vote of the membership if it expels or suspends a member. Suspensions cannot go beyond 60 days.Teves was suspended last March after he failed to return from an overseas trip even as his travel clearance had already expired.&quot;For your information, after our meeting again, we’d like to announce with you right now that the Committee on Ethics and Privileges unanimously decided to recommend to the plenary the imposition of a stiffer disciplinary action to our colleague Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr. for violating the rules of the House of Representatives, particularly Rule 20, Section 1 of Subsection A and B of the Code of Conduct and for disorderly behavior,&quot; Espares said.&quot;It could be something, may suspension or may additional or might be higher,&quot; he said when pressed by media.&quot;It’s up for the plenary to take up and consider... our recommendation.&quot;Espares said Teves has not been informed of the decision yet because they have to submit their report to the plenary session first.He said the panel plans to submit its report to the whole House by Tuesday, so it can take action by Wednesday, the last day before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die.House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said that once the panel submits its report, the House has until the adjournment of session to act. Teves may appeal any decision, on the next session day, which will be in July.Velasco said Teves&#x27; case is unprecedented in the history of the House because this is the first time they have had to deal with a lawmaker who has not yet been convicted in court. Previously, the House dropped from its rolls members who had been convicted by final judgment, he said.<div>Appeal</div>Espares said the panel discussed Teves&#x27; failed bid for political asylum in Timor Leste, but he declined to elaborate.&quot;Panawagan is bumalik talaga siya sa House and mag-avail ng present siya at mag-request siya ng further request with the leadership, kung mag-leave siya or what to the leadership... Kung umuwi siya dito, I don&#x27;t know, baka pwede naman ma-reconsider yung recommendation ng committee. Baka di na rin ituloy sa plenary kung andito lang talaga siya at behaved na siya,&quot; Espares said.Teves remains outside of the Philippines as he faces murder raps over the assassination of Degamo and nine others.<div>RELATED VIDEO</div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9xU6OYBmrjA?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></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>

Both the lawmaker and his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said this was the reason why the DOJ is 'minimizing' the recantation of some witnesses. 

Teves camp accuses DOJ of 'Lutong Macau': 'No semblance of fairness'

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Teves camp accuses DOJ of 'Lutong Macau': 'No semblance of fairness'

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 29, 2023 01:24 PM PHT

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Updated May 29, 2023 11:50 PM PHT

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Degamo slay

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