Teves has no excuse not to face raps: DOJ

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that Congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. has no excuses for not facing charges against him regardless of his concerns about his safety during a press briefing on Friday, March 17.

Remulla also said that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will do what is legally fit to have him return to the Philippines.

“We have multilateral, bilateral ties with other countries. We will do what is needed,” Remulla said, adding that the DOJ is still in the process of officially determining Teves' current whereabouts.

According to Remulla, House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has been in dialogue with the Teves camp but has not received a brief on what has been discussed.

Romualdez on Thursday publicly asked the congressman to return home, citing that his absence and defiance as a lawmaker and citizen does not sit well for a House member.

“We will construe his inability to go home, or refusal to go home, as a flight. Meaning to say, he does not want to face charges. He's not brave enough to face the charges,” Remulla said, reiterating that Teves' security concerns are poor excuses to avoid the high court and that they can assure his safety.

The lawmaker's request for another two months of leave to extend his stay in the United States has been denied by the House Speaker, stating that the travel authority granted him from February 28 to March 9 was solely for his medical treatment.