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

MANILA, Philippines – One complaint received by the Senate ethics committee was found sufficient in form and substance, panel head Sen. JV Ejercito said on Tuesday.

After the first ethics committee hearing since its rules were published, Ejercito spoke to the media about the existing complaints against senators.

“We have already discussed docket number one… Yung docket number one was found to be sufficient in form and substance. We will now furnish the copy to the respondent so that he or she can respond,” Ejercito confirmed.

READ: Senate ethics panel to review 9 complaints 

The respondent and the details of the first complaint were not disclosed by Ejercito.

Ejercito, however, detailed that the committee aims to convene as soon as the Senate session resumes on May 4 to “discuss formally and hopefully dispose of” the first complaint.

After a ruling on the first case is formed, the panel may proceed to discuss the second complaint.

With nine complaints being reviewed by the panel, Ejercito divulged that more than half of them are not compliant in form and substance.

“We already also check on the others kung sino yung nagko-comply sa substance and form. So, marami doon some are not compliant, so we will be returning them to the complainants,” he said.

(We already also checked on the others who are complying with the substance and form. So, there are many who are not compliant, so we will be returning them to the complainants.)

READ: Senate ethics panel closer to reviewing complaints vs lawmakers

When asked on the number of complaints that are not compliant, the senator answered: “Marami eh. Maybe half or even more, more than half are not compliant.”

(There are many. Maybe half or even more than half are not compliant.)

He explained that the noncompliant complaints lacked information, and did not follow a “matrix.” /gsg