By Billy Begas
Former Speaker and incumbent Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez is not convinced that the actions of Arnolfo Teves Jr. were sufficient to warrant his expulsion from the House of Representatives.
Alvarez said he wrote a letter to House Majority Leader and Zamboanga Rep. Mannix Dalipe to respectfully request that his vote of “no” be clearly reflected in the records and journal of the House.
Under the Constitution, Alvarez said a member of the House may be expelled with a vote of two-thirds of all its members. He added that the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, citing the House Rules, reported that the acts of Teves were “so grave as to merit the most severe form of disciplinary action.”
“Tinanggal si Cong. Teves dahil sa absence without leave, sumubok kumuha ng political asylum sa Timor-Leste, at dahil sa mga pinopost niya sa social media. Grave ba ‘yun? Parang hindi naman yata. Maraming iba na mas mabigat pa ang kasalanan pero hindi naman tinanggal,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez expressed his belief that the “petty grounds” used to expel Teves is just an excuse and that the real reason is the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo. Teves had been linked to the killings.
“Hindi ko alam kung ano yung involvement ni Cong. Teves dun sa nangyaring hindi makatarungang pagpaslang kay Gov. De Gamo. Kaya nga may hukuman, let due process take its course. Yung hukuman ang maghusga pagkatapos makita yung ebidensya, at kung nagkasala, edi hatulan nila, at tsaka nila tanggalin sa Kamara. Kahapon, parang sinabi ng Kongreso na sige, kami na lahat: judge, jury, and executioner,” Alvarez stressed.
The lawmaker also pointed out that the Philippines is a democratic country and Teves was democratically elected.
“His removal, without court order, strikes at the cornerstone of the republican and democratic system of the State. The people who voted for him are now effectively deprived of representation and thus disenfranchised,” he said.
“Halal ‘yan ng taong bayan, may mandate si Cong. Teves. Pero yung pinangunahan nila, shortcut kumbaga, tapos gumawa ng ganitong dahilan di raw kasi okay yung pinaglalalagay sa Facebook, kaya nila tatanggalin, kalokohan ‘yan,” he added.
Alvarez stressed that due process should be observed.
“Without law and due process, the definition of what justice is simply becomes whatever those in power say it is. How can that be right?” Alvarez asked.
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