Senate ethics committee mulls jurisdiction on De Lima complaint

The Senate Ethics Committee has deferred proceedings on the ethics complaint filed against Senator Leila De Lima after one member of the panel raised questions over its proper jurisdiction.

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon supported lawyer Karen Jimeno’s manifestation the Senate ethics panel should first determine the jurisdiction of the complaint against De Lima before checking whether the petition to expel De Lima as a member of the Senate, which was filed by Atty. Abelardo de Jesus, is sufficient in form and substance.

The ethics panel is chaired by Senate majority leader Vicente Sotto III.

The complaint stemmed from allegations De Lima was responsible for the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) while she was still the Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary.

During the hearing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Drilon debated whether the committee should first determine the form and substance of the complaint or find out whether it has the prerogative to hear it in the first place.

This prompted Lacson to ask for a suspension of the proceedings which was agreed upon by other members of the committee who attended the meeting— Senators Risa Hontiveros, Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II, and Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Drilon pointed out similarities on De Lima’s case to former senator Loi Ejercito Estrada who also faced an ethics complaint in 2001 but was dismissed by the panel due to lack of jurisdiction. At that time, Drilon was the Senate president.

“I cited that ruling on Sen. Loi Ejercito, because the committee then said we have no jurisdiction because the allegations cited against her happened before she became a senator. Citing the rules, the committee ruled that the committee has no jurisdiction and the ruling was affirmed by the Senate as a whole,” Drilon explained to reporters after the hearing.

“As I’ve already explained, that if we determine that there is no jurisdiction, what is the use of determining it is sufficient in form and substance?” Drilon pointed out.

Asked if he believes there is a huge possibility the ethics complaint against De Lima would be dismissed, Drilon answered he was just “pointing out the matter before the committee and it is up to the committee and the Senate to decide.”