The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges on Monday recommended a stiffer sanction against suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves for violating the House rules and for his disorderly behavior.
"After our meeting. We would like to announce to you right now that the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges decided to unanimously recommend to the plenary the imposition of a stiffer disciplinary action to our colleague, Arnolfo A. Teves," panel chair Felimon Espares told reporters after their closed-door session.
He said Teves violated the House's Code of Conduct, particularly Rule 20, Section 142 Subsection A and B, and for his disorderly behavior.
Espares did not disclose the specific penalty they recommend to impose against the embattled lawmaker.
But he noted that the "penalty is higher" than the suspension they previously imposed.
"It could be something, merong suspension, may additional or might be higher," the panel chair added.
House Committee on Ethics Vice Chair Jil Bongalon said under the House rules, the higher penalties are "expulsion and any penalty that the Committee may determine."
The panel's recommendation will be up for voting among lawmakers in Congress.
Last March, the House preventively suspended Teves for 60 days due to his "continued defiance to the orders of the House to return to the country and perform his duties as House member."
The Negros Oriental lawmaker is being tagged as the mastermind behind the killing of the late Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and 10 others in Pamplona, Negros Oriental last March 4.
But five suspects have already executed their affidavit of recantation which withdraws their earlier allegation against Teves.
