By Alec Go
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. renewed his call to Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. to return to the Philippines and face the charges against him.
Marcos said his administration is willing to provide Teves security after the lawmaker said there are threats against his life.
“[To] reassure him, we’ll provide all kinds of security kung anong gusto mo. Mayaman ka naman. May private jet ka naman eh. Mag-landing ka kung saan mo gusto, papaligiran – sa Air Force base,” the President said in an interview at the 126th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army in Taguig.
“Mag-landing siya sa Basa [Air Base], papaligiran natin ng sundalo, walang makalapit na isang kilometro. So that – that will guarantee his security,” he added.
Marcos also mentioned that they “don’t know of any threat” against Teves’ life.
“We have made all of these offers pero syempre hindi pa siya nagde-decide. But the advice, the only advice I can give to Cong. Arnie is that habang tumatagal ito, mas nagiging mahirap ang sitwasyon mo. So mas maaga kang makauwi, mas marami pang option ang mangyayari,” he said.
“Pero pagka masyado nang late, wala na, mapipilitan na ang gobyerno. We will have to move without any discussions with him,” he added.
Teves replies
In a video posted on Wednesday afternoon, Teves said he is not against Marcos’ statements as he reiterated that there’s a threat against him and to raid his house and allegedly plant evidence.
“Noong January 11 pa lang, binanggit ko na ‘to sa presscon namin ni Atty. Topacio na may balak silang i-raid ang bahay ko at nangyari nga. Iyon talaga ang ikinatatakot ko kaya hindi ako makauwi,” he said.
“Tungkol sa murder, as I said, naisama sa mga iniimbestigahan. Ang request ko lang, Sir, huwag naman sanang ako lang. Dapat lahat ng anggulo tingnan,” he added.
He also requested for a dialogue with Marcos to explain his side.
“Kung kayo na ang humiling na umuwi ako, mas mahihirapan akong humundi dahil mas may authority kayong makabigay ng proteksiyon sa akin,” Teves said.
The lawmaker is among those implicated in the March 4 murder of Governor Roel Degamo. He remains a no-show at the House committee hearing on his unauthorized absences. – With reports from Mela Lesmoras–gb
