The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges is set to begin formally processing complaints against members of the upper chamber after securing the required support to activate its internal rules of procedure.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, who chairs the committee, announced Thursday, April 16, that the panel is now awaiting official publication of its rules before it can fully exercise its oversight mandate.
Formal Activation of Rules
Ejercito said the committee reached a key milestone after six of its ten members signed the governing rules, clearing the final procedural requirement for activation.
“The Committee can soon discharge its functions, including the evaluation of complaints and conduct of hearings. We will proceed as soon as the Rules is published,” Ejercito stated.
The committee secretariat confirmed that the rules will be published in a major newspaper on Friday, April 17, in compliance with legal requirements. Once published, the panel is expected to convene its next formal meeting on April 28.
Initial Agenda
Upon activation, the committee will begin an initial review of pending complaints, assess whether filings meet required form and substance, and establish a timeline for possible hearings involving sitting senators.
Committee Membership
The six senators whose signatures enabled the committee’s activation include JV Ejercito as chairperson, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, Kiko Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, and Risa Hontiveros.
Ejercito said the panel had remained inactive for several weeks pending completion of the required signatures.
“We have been awaiting the completion of the required six signatures since our last meeting in March, and we thank our colleagues for their support,” he said.
With the rules soon to take effect, the committee is expected to begin addressing ethics complaints filed within the Senate in the coming weeks.