JV Ejercito eyes March 4 for Senate ethics panel hearing
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. JV Ejercito, head of the Senate panel on ethics and privileges, said the earliest he can conduct a committee hearing is on March 4.
In a text message on Thursday, Ejercito informed reporters that his office has been waiting for room vacancies in the Senate for the past two weeks.
As a solution, he said he had asked Senate President Vicente Sotto III for permission to use the Senate Lounge but was instead granted access to the Senate President’s conference room.
“Senate President Sotto has authorized the ethics committee to use the Senate President’s Conference Room on March 4 at 10 a.m. to expedite the meeting as soon as possible,” Ejercito said.
“The meeting will be an executive session among members. The agenda is the adoption of rules, and we will proceed to the initial vetting of cases,” he added.
Six complaints have been filed so far against senators, including one involving Ejercito and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
READ: Sen. JV Ejercito faces ethics complaint
Lawyer Marvin Aceron earlier filed an ethics complaint against Ejercito for his supposed gross neglect of constitutional duty in office.
In an 18-page complaint, Aceron said he filed the case after Ejercito failed to take any action on an ethics complaint filed against former Senate President Francis Escudero on Oct. 2, 2025.
“347 citizens signed that complaint—including a Constitutional Commissioner who helped draft the 1987 Constitution and a National Artist who represents the highest honor in Filipino culture. 109 days later, the Senate committee on ethics and privileges, chaired by respondent Sen. JV Ejercito, has not assigned a case number. Has not issued an acknowledgment. Has not provided any information on the complaint’s status. Has taken no action whatsoever,” the complaint reads.
READ: Escudero slapped with ethics complaint over P30-M campaign donation
“This failure is not mere negligence or administrative delay. After 109 days of complete inaction, it constitutes willful Gross Neglect of Constitutional Duty—a deliberate refusal to perform a mandatory duty,” it adds.
Aceron also claimed that the Senate ethics panel does not lack capacity but lacks will.
He is seeking Ejercito’s censure, removal as ethics committee chairman, and mandatory inhibition from any further involvement in the Escudero ethics complaint.
The complaint also called for institutional reforms, including mandatory docketing within five working days, public complaint registries, and year-round processing of ethics complaints.
“This complaint does not ask the Senate to move mountains. It asks the Senate to do what barangays do in five minutes: assign a case number,” the complaint reads.
Ejercito explained that there is an outstanding process as to how cases will be heard, and it should be done according to the order of filing.
“We can’t just prioritize Aceron’s case against Sen. Escudero. We are a government of laws, not of men,” he said in Filipino. /mcm
