By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Oriental 3rd district Congressman Arnolfo Teves was only given until today to report to the House of Representatives after House Speaker Martin Romualdez rejected his request for a two-month leave of absence.

In a report on the ABS-CBN News Channel over the weekend, Romualdez told Teves to reconsider his decision not to return to the country and reiterated his earlier statements that the lawmaker faced the allegations against him.

Meanwhile, Teves’ legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said they will appeal the two-month absence.

“In view of all the reckless accusation that he [Teves] seems to be guilty of committing such a crime, he had considered applying for a leave of absence,” Topacio said.

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said Teves’ claims of safety concerns as the reason why he would not return is only a poor excuse not to face the charges.

Previously, Teves was tagged by one of the suspects as the mastermind in the Pamplona massacre, an allegation already denied by the lawmaker.

Teves is also facing a separate murder complaint in relation to the alleged killings in 2019./DGB, WDJ