Umaapela ang kampo ni Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. na alisin ang 60-day suspension na ipinataw sa mambabatas dahil katanggap-tanggap ang rason nitong hindi umuwi ng bansa dahil sa banta nito sa kanyang buhay.
Binigyan diin ni Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel ni Teves, na hindi palaging kailangan ng “demonstrable proof” upang patunayan na totoong may banta sa buhay ang kanyang kliyente.
“Everyone has a right to be cautious about the threats he perceives against his very life. The threat that Rep. Teves conceives, may therefore be said as falling under ‘unavoidable circumstances’ which prevents his physical presence in the sessions of the House, hence, an exempting circumstance under Sec.71, Rule IX of its Rules.” saad ni Topacio sa isang liham sa House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
Dagdag pa ng kanilang kampo, hindi binabalewala ni Teves ang panawagan ng Kongreso sapagkat sinubukan nitong makipagugnayan sa pamamagitan ng pagdalo sa virtual sessions subalit hindi ito pinagbigyan.
“With these, and the expressed intention and standing commitment of Representative Teves to participate in the sessions, there is no refusal to discharge his duties nor disrespect the authority and dignity of the Honorable Congress,” ani Topacio.
“It is, thus, most respectfully prayed that the said suspension be lifted and Rep. Teves be allowed to participate in the sessions and discharge his duties as a member of Congress, virtually in the meantime,” dagdag nito.
