Ethics case filed vs senator should meet committee's requirements, says Ejercito

MANILA, Philippines — The case filed against any senator that fails to meet the requirements set by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges will be returned to the complainant "for correction," Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito said. The Ethics committee, led by Ejercito, convened on Wednesday in an executive session and adopted rules to ensure the proper handling of complaints filed before the panel against six senators. “Cases that do not comply with the requirements in form and in substance will be returned to the complainant. They will be given the chance to amend their complaint before refiling it," Ejercito said in a briefing. The panel is composed of Sen. Francis Pangilinan (vice chairman) and members Senators Erwin Tulfo, Christopher Go, Rodante Marcoleta and Imee Marcos, and Risa Hontiveros. Senators Francis Escudero, Ronald Dela Rosa, Erwin Tulfo, Hontiveros, and Ejercito himself face ethics complaints on various grounds. Ejercito said the meeting was mainly procedural, allowing members to review the proposed rules and submit their inputs.