Ethics raps set vs 4 senators

Four senators implicated in the flood control scandal will have to face their peers, as they will be slapped with complaints related to the scandal.

While he refused to name names, Senator JV Ejercito on Wednesday said the charges will definitely be filed.

“I cannot divulge (any more) as it might not sit well with those who have a case. There are [a] total of [four] cases,” Ejercito told reporters.

“I have to get the consent of the members. Unfortunately, the committee hasn’t been constituted,” he said.

Ejercito explained that he was appointed to head the Senate Committee on Ethics only days before the session adjourned on 3 October.

“Therefore, I cannot hold meetings or hearings. The membership is yet to be manifested and completed at the resumption of the plenary session next week,” he said.

Ejercito said they will proceed immediately after the committee is organized and its internal rules are adopted.

Once the committee is constituted, Ejercito said it will begin to deliberate on the complaints filed against individual senators in the order they were received, following a “first in, first out” system.

“We are committed to carrying out our mandate with integrity, impartiality, and full respect for due process,” he added.

Hontiveros included?

On 2 October, Eldrige Marvin Aceron filed a complaint against Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero who admitted receiving a P30 million campaign donation in 2022 from Lawrence Lubiano, the owner of a construction firm that won government projects in Bicol.

Aside from Escudero, the Senate panel also received an ethics complaint against Senator Risa Hontiveros for alleged “witness tampering.” The complaint against her was filed by lawyers Ferdinand Topacio, Manuelito Luna and Jacinto Paras.

The ethics complaint against Hontiveros included the recantation of Michael Maurillo, known as Rene, who was a witness in an inquiry led by Hontiveros on “abuses” in the premises of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founded by detained televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing cases of rape and sexual abuse.

Ejercito said the panel will begin its work once it is fully constituted and its internal rules are adopted.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III was mum on the possibility of filing cases against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada in connection with the flood control scandal.

“We have yet to see how it evolves. That was just news. It’s tough to react to something that is not concrete yet,” he said.

Despite the recommendation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that criminal and administrative charges be filed against several individuals, including Estrada and Villanueva, Sotto insisted the Senate remain focused on its work.

“No, as long as we’re doing our work, that’s the most important thing,” he said, noting that affidavits from former DPWH officials provided the basis for the proposed charges.

Lacson’s comeback

Sotto also expressed confidence that the return of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would not undermine his leadership.

Lacson resigned from the post last month after receiving criticism over his handling of the flood control scandal investigation. The panel is scheduled to resume its probe on Friday, 15 November.

Meanwhile, Sotto declined to comment on who Lacson might call as a witness to the investigation.

The Senate leader, however, revealed he has arranged a meeting with former House speaker Martin Romualdez possibly to invite him to the next Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.

“To talk about the Blue Ribbon hearing, Senator Lacson is thinking of inviting Zaldy Co and former speaker Martin (Romualdez). It’s just an initiative so they can be formally invited,” Sotto said.

Asked if the cases were part of an attack against the Senate, he replied, “You can take it whatever way you want. That’s how it goes. There’s always someone who will think good or bad. You can’t take that away from them.”

“I don’t look at it. I concentrate on my work as Senate President,” he added.

Sotto also dismissed fears these developments could demoralize the chamber, emphasizing that all legal matters will follow due process.

He reiterated that passing a “clean” 2026 national budget is the Senate’s top priority.