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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider JV Ejercito: Ethics case hearings will be in executive session

JV Ejercito: Ethics case hearings will be in executive session

Published Mar 4, 2026 01:40 pm
Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito said on Wednesday, March 4, that the hearings of the cases filed before the Senate Ethics Committee will be conducted in executive session.
Senator JV Ejercito (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator JV Ejercito (Senate PRIB photo)
In a press conference, Ejercito said it will be unfair to the respondent in the case if it gets dismissed because his or her reputation will already be damaged.
"I think it will be, just to be fair, it will be in executive session," Ejercito said.
"Kasi it will be unfair naman kung halimbawa, I hope the public will understand that in case it will be dismissed, pero di ba? Damage would have been done already, kahit na in the end, kung madismiss man yung kaso pero napagpiyestahan na (Because it would be unfair, for example. I hope the public will understand that if the case ends up being dismissed. The damage to the person’s reputation would have already been done. Even if, in the end, the case is dismissed, the harm would already have been done)," he added.
Ejercito convened the panel on Wednesday morning to finalize the rules that will be used in hearing the six pending ethics complaints against current senators.
According to Committee Chairman Senator JV Ejercito, the members of the committee have already been given copies of the rules. These will be published, and after five days, the committee can meet again to determine whether there are grounds for the ethics complaints.
The next Ethics Committee meeting is scheduled for March 18.
Ejercito did not name the senators facing the ethics complaints, yet some of them had already gone public in the media against Senators Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Risa Hontiveros, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, and Ejercito himself.
"I cannot divulge the names of the senators. Not unless, sabi ko nga, the committee already finds sufficient grounds for those senators that were subject to complaints," he said.
"Kasi it will be unfair kung mga frivolous po yung complaints or allegations, tapos pagpipiestahan na kami (Because it would be unfair if the complaints or allegations turn out to be frivolous, and the senators are already being publicly torn apart)," he added.
According to Ejercito, he will inhibit himself as chairman when the complaint against him is heard.
The cases that can be filed against the senators include violations of Senate rules, violations of the law, and disorderly conduct.
If the ethics panel finds sufficient grounds for a complaint, the committee will notify the senator being complained against, and the hearing on the case will proceed.

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