Ethics panel adopts rules, sets timeline for handling complaints — Ejercito
March 04, 2026
The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges convened Wednesday, March 4, in an executive session and adopted its procedural rules to ensure the proper handling of complaints before the panel.
Committee chairperson Senator JV Ejercito said the meeting was mainly procedural, allowing members to review the proposed rules and submit their inputs.
“Our meeting was procedural, and the committee adopted its rules. Members were also given the opportunity to review the provisions and submit their inputs for consideration,” he said.
After the meeting, the committee secretariat will consolidate all proposed revisions and circulate a clean copy of the rules to committee members by Thursday, March 5.
The finalized document will then be filed for publication 24 hours after receipt by the members, or the following day.
Ejercito stressed that the committee is not authorized to act on any complaint until the rules have been formally published.
“Once the rules are published, that’s when we can begin acting on cases filed before the committee,” he said.
Following publication, the committee intends to reconvene on March 18 to start the process of determining whether the complaints it has received complied with the required form and substance pursuant to the committee rules.
Complaints that fail to meet these requirements will be returned to the complainant for correction.
“Cases that do not comply with the requirements in form and in substance will be returned to the complainant. Bibigyan sila ng pagkakataon na amyendahan o ayusin ang kanilang reklamo bago muling ihain,” Ejercito said.
If a complaint is found to comply with the required form and substance, a copy will be transmitted to the respondent within five days from such determination.
The panel will then conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine whether substantial credible evidence exists. If none is found, the complaint will be dismissed. If substantial credible evidence is found, the committee will decide on the appropriate action through a vote, which may include proceeding to an adjudicatory hearing.
