At a time when erosion of public esteem and confidence in elected senators and representatives has manifested itself in angry protest demonstrations, the activation of the Senate committee on ethics and the designation of a new chairperson is timely and opportune. Senator Joseph Victor (JV) Ejercito has committed to lead the committee “with fairness, transparency, and respect for due process” and to ensure that the Senate remains an institution of integrity, accountability, and honor.”

Indeed, the Senate, as well as the House of Representatives, have come under intense scrutiny by an outraged citizenry that has grown weary of seemingly endless narratives on how the national budget has been debauched, with indicted public works officials flaunting regular gambling sprees involving amounts far in excess of their regular salaries and allowances.

An ethics complaint has been filed by a private citizen-lawyer who pointed out that, if proven substantially, the acceptance of a campaign donation from a government contractor “constitutes conduct unbecoming and brings the Senate into disrepute, regardless of criminal liability.”

Second, he likewise claimed conflict of interest and improper influence, arguing that public officials are prohibited from having financial or material interests that may be affected by their office and from soliciting or accepting favors that may influence official functions.

Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, establishes ethical norms for government officials and employees, reinforcing the principle of "public office being a public trust". It requires adherence to specific norms of conduct like professionalism, commitment to public interest, and simple living, while prohibiting conflicts of interest, mandating asset disclosure, and outlining penalties for violations.

With the parade of elected officials, both in the national and local levels, as well as appointed officials in the executive department, displaying and even flaunting excessive wealth, the level of public concern and consternation has peaked to boiling point.

The reactivation of the Senate Committee on Ethics could not have come at a more critical time. Public indignation is mounting, the people’s trust in their institutions is eroding, not because wrongdoing is exposed, but because accountability has often been evaded.

A functioning ethics committee is essential to restore integrity within the Senate as the chamber that prides itself in being “the conscience of the nation.”

Ethics, after all, is not merely a matter of decorum or internal discipline. It is the moral compass that guides public service. When senators investigate anomalies in the bureaucracy, they must themselves be beyond reproach. The committee’s activation sends a message that ethical conduct and responsibility starts at home, within the very halls of the legislature.

For the Senate to reclaim moral leadership, the committee must act swiftly, transparently, and fairly. Upholding the highest standards of behavior is not just a matter of institutional pride but a democratic imperative. By holding its members accountable, the Senate can help rebuild faith in government and reaffirm that no one is above the law.

It is time for high public officials to come to terms with this ultimate reality: they serve at the pleasure of the sovereign people who elected them to office.