Senate Ethics Committee yet to take action on complaints

THE Senate Ethics Committee on Wednesday said that it has yet to take action on several ethics complaints against four senators, its chairman said on Wednesday.

Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, who heads the panel, said that the committee needs five days after the publication of its rules until it can act on docketed ethics complaints.

“Some people might be expecting already (the committee) to take action on the cases, [but] we can only act on them right after the publication of the updated rules,” he told a news briefing.

The committee held an executive session to discuss the adoption of rules, and the initial vetting of ethics complaints filed against Senators Francis G. Escudero, Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa, and Mr. Ejercito.

The senator declined to disclose details of two other complaints, saying it would be unfair to discuss cases that may later be deemed insufficient.

Mr. Ejercito said that the committee had updated its rules to include rules on inhibition, amid a potential conflict of interest for its members.

He added that the committee intends to reconvene on March 18 to begin the process of determining whether complaints have sufficient in form and substance pursuant to its rules.

“Cases that do not comply with the requirements in form and in substance will be returned to the complainant. They will be given the opportunity to amend or adjust their complaint before re-filing,” Mr. Ejercito added.

He said that once a complaint is found to be sufficient, it will be transmitted to the respondent within five days.

An ethics complaint has been filed against Mr. Ejercito over his alleged failure to promptly act on a case involving Mr. Escudero, who has been accused of receiving campaign funds from a contractor linked to a multibillion-peso flood control scandal.

Mr. dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief and chief architect of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign, face a complaint over his absence for months amid reports of a possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.

Ms. Hontiveros faces a separate complaint alleging witness tampering tied to a Senate inquiry into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. — Adrian H. Halili