MANILA (UPDATE) — The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to suspend for 60 days Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. from his congressional seat amid his continued absence.

Two hundred ninety-two (292) House lawmakers favored Teves' suspension, with zero abstention and zero opposition, for disorderly behavior following his continued unauthorized absence from the House of Representatives.

Teves ignored a Tuesday deadline to appear before the House ethics panel and has yet to return from his overseas trip to face the multiple criminal complaints against him.

Speaker Martin Romualdez presided over the vote.

"As everybody in this august hall would know, this case became a celebrated one because it has put the institution with different views and perspectives surrounding his failure to return to the country despite the expiration of his travel clearance. This amounts to question the institutional moral foundation to protect its integrity, dignity and reputation as a mode of self-preservation and the Committee, in particular," House Committee on Ethics and Privileges Chair, COPP NATCCO Party List Rep. Felimon Espares said in sponsoring Committee Report 472 which the House adopted in the historic vote.

"We are at liberty to say that the real issue on the cases at hand is whether or not the conduct of Rep. Arnolfo 'Arnie' A. Teves Jr. in staying abroad with expired travel clearance and his continued defiance to the orders of the House to return to the country and perform his duties as House Member constitute disorderly behavior affecting the dignity, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives," Espares said.

"After a thorough deliberation and observance of due process, the Committee on Ethics and Privileges hereby recommends to the House of Representatives the imposition of the penalty of sixty (60) days suspension from the service upon Rep. Amolfo "Amie" A. Teves Jr. for disorderly behavior," Espares concluded.

The vote happened on Congress' last day before a 6-week break during which majority of the 60-day suspension will occur.

The 60-day suspension is effective immediately.

The House voted to adopt Committee Report 472 which states that the principal issue to be resolved by the committee is whether or not the conduct of Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” A. Teves Jr. in staying abroad with expired travel clearance and his continued defiance to the orders of the House to return to the country and perform his duties as House Member constitute disorderly behavior affecting the dignity, integrity and reputation of the House of Representatives.

"Pursuant to this Constitutional mandate and the provisions of the Rules of the House and the Committee Rules of Procedure for the 19th Congress, we find and so hold that the conduct of Rep Arnolfo 'Arnie' A. Teves Jr. in staying abroad with expired travel clearance and his continued defiance to the orders of the House and the Committee to return to the country and perform his duties as House Member constitute disorderly behavior affecting the dignity, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives, which warrant disciplinary action," CR 472 said.

"Rep. Arnolfo 'Arnie' A. Teves Jr. failed to observe the norms of conduct and ethical standards expected of public officials. His misconduct has adversely affected the dignity, integrity and reputation of his public office and that of the House of Representatives as an institution. This Committee cannot countenance such an act by any member of the House," CR 472 also said.

Ferdinand Topacio, Teves' lawyer, previously said that Teves could not simply be expelled from his post because this would disenfranchise his constituents.

• Despite ultimatum, Teves still no-show at House panel probe
• Defying House orders can serve as basis for expulsion of solon - panel

"Expulsion is not taken lightly, especially not in connection with any crime for which a person has not been convicted of final judgment," Topacio said.

"Because if you expel a congressman, a senator, you disenfranchise the particular group of people that he represents in his district, that elected him to Congress."

The House is empowered by its own rules and the 1987 Constitution to discipline its members, but a two-thirds vote of all members is required for suspensions and expulsions, and suspensions cannot exceed 60 days.

• Teves faces House ethics probe, risks expulsion for continued absence
• Teves camp blasts calls to freeze assets, expel him from Congress

Teves' bid to extend his absence from the House had been denied by the leadership. The lawmaker cited security concerns and threats to his life in asking for the extension.

The Negros Oriental 3rd district lawmaker is so far the only lawmaker to be suspended from office under the 1987 Constitution in the 19th Congress.

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