Arnie Teves says recantations not enough to convince him to come home

Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. on Monday said the recantations of the suspect-witnesses in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo are not enough to convince him to return to the country.

In a virtual press briefing, Teves said he would "most probably" come home once he sees a "semblance of fairness" from those investigating Degamo's killing.

"Kahit may bumaliktad, walang bumaliktad, may threat sa aking buhay at wala pa ring semblance of fairness [With or without recantations, there is still threat to my life and there is still no semblance of fairness]," he said.

Teves said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla should retract his statement pinning him to Degamo's assassination.

"Again, ang hinihingi ko lang [What I'm only asking is] semblance of fairness, then most probably uuwi na ako [I will come home]," the embattled lawmaker said.

Five suspect-turned-witnesses have already recanted their testimonies linking Teves to the killing of Degamo and several others last March 4.

Teves, whose application for asylum in Timor-Leste was rejected, has repeatedly denied involvement in the assassination. Citing threat to his life, he refuses to return to the country even amid the possibility of expulsion from the House of Representatives. —KBK, GMA Integrated News