SEN. Joseph Victor Ejercito said the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges is “not a weapon” for those who have ulterior motives or political agenda against any person.
Ejercito issued the statement during the organizational meeting of the Ethics Committee, which he chairs.
“I assure everyone here, and our people that the Committee will be fair and impartial,” he said in his opening statement.
Sens. Francis Escudero, Risa Hontiveros, and Ejercito are facing ethics complaints on varied grounds.
The panel’s membership was filled up last week, which was a prerequisite for its constitution.
It is composed of Sen. Francis Pangilinan (vice chairman) and members Sens. Risa Hontiveros, Erwin Tulfo, Bong Go, Rodante Marcoleta, and Imee Marcos.
Ejercito said the committee can now perform its duties and functions and can proceed with its business.
“Our Constitution has given the Legislature the power and obligation to discipline its own ranks,” the senator said. “The Committee on Ethics is a mechanism to hear complaints against members of the Senate.”
Ejercito earlier said he could not start tackling the complaints against Sens. Francis Escudero and Risa Hontiveros until the committee is formed.
Hontiveros has been accused of “witness tampering” in relation to her investigation on the alleged sexual and labor abuses of some members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ by its founder, Apollo Quiboloy.