Senate ethics panel acts on all complaints

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on ethics and privileges, chaired by Senator JV Ejercito, acted Monday on all nine complaints pending before the panel.

The committee dismissed four complaints it deemed frivolous, including those that failed to comply with basic requirements on form and substance, and deferred action on three others.

“Four complaints were dismissed, considered frivolous. The committee reviewed it for several weeks then dismissed it today,” Ejercito said, mostly in Filipino.

READ: Senate ethics panel: 1 complaint, so far, sufficient in form, substance

“Those deemed non-compliant will be returned to the complainants and they will be given the chance to correct and refile,” Ejercito said.

The remaining two dockets require a response from a government agency to assist the panel in resolving the cases.

Ejercito said the committee agreed to keep all proceedings and details of the dockets confidential.

Asked about the status of the complaint against him for the supposed neglect of his duties as the panel head, Ejercito said the panel members voted to dismiss, while Sen. Francis Pangilinan temporarily took over the hearing.

“I inhibited for a while… It was Sen. Pangilinan who chaired, and since there are already actions being taken by the committee, it was voted by the committee members to dismiss the complaint,” Ejercito shared.

He refused to disclose the senators who faced the three other complaints, saying such information should remain confidential to avoid a stir-up.

Still, the cases may still be re-filed should the complainants decide to do so.

In a separate matter, the panel also took up a proposal for the ethics committee to recommend to the Senate committee on rules the inclusion of guidelines on ‘absenteeism’ such as “No Work, No Pay” policy.

Since the complaint filed against Senator Ronald dela Rosa concerns his prolonged absence, the members agreed to seek his comments through a formal letter on the matter. /jpv/gsg