Manila, Philippines – As the Senate resumes its session next week, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito will have to tackle an impeachment complaint against him.
This is after lawyer Marvin Aceron filed an ethics complaint against Ejercito over allegations of gross neclect of constitutional duty.
On Thursday, Aceron filed the complaint accusing Ejercito, as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, of ignoring their earlier complaint against former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
On October, Aceron’s camp filed an ethics complaint against Escudero over receiving P30 million campaign donation from Lawrence Lubiano who owns Centerways Construction.
Aceron argued that there have been exactly 109 days since the complaint was filed, but noted that there have been no action done since.
The ethics complaint emphasized that no case number was assigned, no acknowledgement, nor updates on the status of the case was given to them.
“One hundred nine days later, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, chaired by respondent Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito, has not assigned a case number. Has not issued an acknowledgment. Has not provided any information on the complaint’s status.
Kung ayaw, may dahilan,” Aceron emphasized.
Aceron pointed out that the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges was able to act and decide on Rep. Kiko Barzaga’s ethics complaint within 77 days.
He added that even Barangays can process case numbers within 5 minutes.
While he believes that the Senate has the capacity, Aceron said that what the chamber lacks is will.
“We’re not asking the Senate to move mountains. We’re asking them to do what barangays do in 5 minutes: “assign a case number.”
47 citizens are watching.
The Republic is watching.
History is watching,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ejercito confirmed that he have received the complaint.
He defended however that the Committee can conduct hearings as it is not constituted yet and that its members are not yet final.
This, he said, is still aside from the reason that the Senate was focused on the budget deliberations during the past few months.
“On being named in the complaint, we recognize that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and has the right to raise concerns or seek appropriate remedies under the law. That is how democracy works.
But I would also like to stress that we are a government of laws, and we will proceed in accordance with Senate rules and due process,” Ejercito said.
Ejercito, meanwhile, assured that when the Senate resumes session on January 26, and once the committee is constituted, it will process the pending cases based on the order of filing.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News