After he failed to be present in the House despite a 24-hour ultimatum imposed on him, Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves Jr. on Tuesday asserted that he is not hiding.
In a 17-minute video statement posted on his Facebook, Teves said he wanted to explain his prolonged absence from duty in the chamber via teleconferencing but was denied by the House panel.
"Hindi ko maintindihan bakit pinipilit nila ako na pumunta face-to-face. Nakiusap nga ako na hindi magpapakita muna doon ng physical dahil sa seryosong pagbabanta sa akin," he lamented.
The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges gave Teves until Tuesday afternoon to physically attend the hearing in his absence.
His travel clearance to the United States expired last March 9. Teves sought for two-month leave of absence, citing a "grave threat" to his and his family's security as the reason, but was rejected by House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Lawmakers have been urging Teves to return home as he is being tagged as the alleged mastermind behind the assassination of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.
But he questioned his involvement in the slay case.
"Agad-agad binintang nila sa akin, hindi ba dapat sa lahat ng imbestigasyon, una ang ebidensya bago ang suspect at mastermind?" Teves said.
"Ano ang nangyari dito? Naglagay na agad sila ng suspect, naglagay na sila ng mastermind sabay hinahabol 'yung ebidensya na tumama doon sa mastermind at suspect. Hindi dapat ganoon," Teves added.
The Negros lawmaker appealed to authorities to be fair and look at the different angles of the incident.
He also condemned the raid conducted by authorities on his five houses, saying that his speculations that firearms and explosives would be planted came true.
"Sino naman ang tanga na mag-iiwan ng kahit anong ilegal doon na alam mong ira-raid ka? 'Diba hindi naman tayo pinanganak kahapon," Teves said.
Aside from the Degamo slay case, he is facing multiple murder complaints in connection to the killings in Negros Oriental in 2019.
Violation of illegal possession of firearms was also filed against Teves and his sons. But one count of complaints has been junked by the justice department.
