Negros Oriental's 3rd district Representative, Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr., has denied the reports claiming his return to the Philippines on May 17, Wednesday, dismissing them as "fake news".&nbsp;
These reports were initially sparked by remarks made on May 16 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary, Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla, who cited a supposedly reliable source.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It was stated to me by a reliable source, [or] who I consider as a reliable source... We want him to be able to face the charges properly. And the timing is perfect because the charges will be filed tomorrow. I hope he comes home,&rdquo; Remulla told a briefing on Tuesday.&nbsp;
Adding fuel to the speculations was Teves' cryptic Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ArnieTevesOfficial/posts/pfbid02a7B4dt3oVPkTu3Xc1PJ2ZxAsGu4Pa1LPdSW41tnV2MA3ynQKdk2eYRkEEWFW7oqLl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on Tuesday night, which read, &ldquo;READY NABA ANG ALL? 🤪.&rdquo;&nbsp;
In a radio interview on Wednesday, Teves challenged the credibility of Remulla's statements, saying, &ldquo;You want a more reliable source? Sino bang reliable source, yung source nila or ako?&ldquo;
The suspended congressman further criticized the DOJ Secretary's premature remarks, stating that they should have consulted him first before making any assumptions about his decisions.
&ldquo;Fake news. Yes [you can quote me]... Dapat tinanong muna nila ako bago sila nagsalita sa mga desisyon ko 'di ba,&ldquo; he added.
Teves has been out of the country since February 28 and is <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/remulla-calls-teves-mastermind" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tagged</a> as the alleged mastermind behind the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on March 4.&nbsp;
Fearing for his <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/martin-romualdez-call-with-arnie-teves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">safety</a>, he has refused to return home to the Philippines.&nbsp;
In an attempt to <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/doj:-teves-is-at-timor-leste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seek</a> asylum, Teves applied to Timor-Leste earlier this month, but his application was <a href="https://www.dzrh.com.ph/post/teves'-asylum-request-denied" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a>.

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Teves denies reports of return to PH; calls them "fake news"