Hihilingin ng Department of Justice (DOJ) sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) na kanselahin na ang pasaporte ni suspended Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr.

“When the other charges are filed, we will file for the cancellation of his passport,” sabi ni  DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla sa ambush interview nitong Miyerkules.

“But effectively, passports can be canceled when there is already a court case, so we will make for the cases to be filed before our courts by the prosecutors, by the panel of prosecutors, before we seek for the cancellation of the passport,” anang kalihim.

Una rito, sinabi ni Remulla sa CNN Philippines na posible maihain ng National Bureau of Investigation ang mga reklamo laban sa suspendidong mambabatas sa Lunes.

Ngunit ayon kay Remulla, hindi lang isa ang hawak na pasaporte ni Teves.

“We can cancel the passport. Pero may hawak na ibang passport 'yan. May hawak pa yan na ibang passport… may hawak pa, ibang nationality, may hawak yan,” sabi ng kalihim sa ambush interview.

Tumanggi naman na magkomento sa naturang pahayag ni Remulla ang abogado ni Teves na si Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.

“We have no comment on that issue at this time due to lack of information. We hope to be able to release a statement soon,” pahayag ni Topacio sa ipinadalang mensahe sa GMA News Online.

Iniuugnay si Teves sa pagpapatay kay Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, at sa siyam na iba pa.

Nitong Martes, isiniwalat ni Remulla na nasa Timor-Leste si Teves para humingi ng political asylum.

Naglabas naman ng impormasyon kinalaunan ang DFA at sinabing tinanggihan ng Ministry of Interior of Timor-Leste ang hiling ng kongresista.

Binigyan umano ng limang araw si Teves para umalis ng naturang bansa o maghain ng apela.

Ayon kay Remulla, posibleng nasa Timor-Leste pa si Remulla.

“I think he’s still there. Maybe he’s going back to Korea, knowing that the situation that he has been doing. He’s been shuffling between Korea and Cambodia and, I think, Bangkok where many of his people are staying right now,” anang kalihim.

“I think that he will just go around these countries while he still has his passport,” dagdag niya. --FRJ, GMA Integrated News