Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito assured on Wednesday, February4 that the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges will be fair and impartial as it hears all complaints that are pending in the panel.

Ejercito made the statement when he convened the committee on Wednesday, declaring that the panel has been fully constituted and ready to perform its duties and functions. 

“Today, we formally constitute the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges. Last week, in Plenary, the membership of the Committee was filled up which was a prerequisite for its constitution. The Committee can now perform its duties and functions and can proceed with its business,” Ejercito said in his opening remarks.

“There will be no stones left unturned but, in the process, we will see to it that all rights will be protected,” he said.

Ejercito also reminded his colleagues that the ethics committee is a mechanism to hear complaints against members of the Senate.

“Our Constitution has given the Legislature the power and obligation to discipline its own ranks. We live by the principle that a public office is a public trust,” the lawmaker stressed. 

“It is not a weapon for those who have ulterior motives and political agenda,” he said.

Ejercito, who is also facing an ethics complaint, also explained the delay on the panel’s constitution, saying the Senate itself was occupied with budget hearings in the last few months. 

During the hearing, Ejercito suggested that the committee hear the cases filed before it on a first-in, first-out basis. 

He also said that the draft rules, which was finished on Tuesday night, would be given to each member of the panel for review.