Senate ethics panel to probe info leak on confidential funds
The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges is set to investigate the alleged information leak of the senators discussion on confidential funds during an executive session earlier this week.
Sen. Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay, chairperson of the panel, said she will convene members of the Senate in a meeting “in order to gather additional information necessary to complete its review.”
“The Committee…will convene its members to conduct a probe on all matters relating to the conduct, rights, privileges, safety, dignity, integrity and reputation of the Senate and its members pursuant to Rule X, Section 13 (16),” Binay said in a statement on Thursday, November 9.
On Tuesday, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada criticized a news report identifying the senators who are allegedly supportive of reinstating the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Both agencies are headed by Vice President Sara Duterte.
Estrada, during a privilege speech, warned that breaching information from an executive session is in violation of the Senate rules and regulations.
Binay agreed citing Rule XLVII, Section 126 of the Rules of the Senate which states that "the executive session of the Senate shall be held always in closed doors. In such sessions only the Secretary, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and/or such other persons as may be authorized by the Senate to the session hall."
“Further, section 128 states that ‘The President as well as the Senators and the officials and employees of the Senate shall absolutely refrain from divulging any of the confidential matter taken up by the Senate, and all proceedings which might have taken place’,” she pointed out.
“In order to comply with Rule XLVII, Section 128 regarding confidentiality, out of fairness to all respondents, and to assure the integrity of its work, the Committee will refrain from making further public statements on this matter pending completion of its initial review,” Binay said.