(Eagle News) – The Senate Ethics Committee will proceed with its investigation on the various ethics complaint filed against Senator Leila de Lima.
There were no objections when Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III declared that these had “form and substance.” He also decided to consolidate all the complaints, including the one concerning her attempt to prevent her former driver-bodyguard and lover Ronnie Dayan from attending the House inquiry on the illegal drug trade.
The other complaints were filed by a certain Atty. Abelardo de Jesus, Alvarez Farinas, and the one filed by Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali who also chairs the House committee on justice that conducted the house inquiry which was snubbed by Dayan and De Lima.
“There is probable cause on the second supplemental complaint filed by Atty Abelardo De Jesus and the case filed by Alvarez Farinas, and (congressman) Umali from the House of Representative while the complaint filed by Atty De Jesus — the original and the first supplemental — I find it lacking in substance,” Sotto said.
De Lima is facing charges for violation of article 150 of the Revised Penal Code concerning disobedience to summon made by the national assembly, and violation of parliamentary courtesy, and obstruction of justice for her attempt to prevent Dayan from attending the house inquiry.
Sotto gave De Lima 15 days to answer the various consolidated complaints.
“Kung tatanggapin namin ang sagot or kung di kami maliliwanagan sa sagot or kung di kami umaayon sa sagot, ang susunod na step diyan would be a public hearing. We will ask Senator De Lima to be present. And we will ask the complainants to explain their complaints,” he said.