Only the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges can initiate appropriate sanctions on Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa – including possible expulsion – for his prolonged absence, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.
Lacson also said that without any complaint lodged before the Senate ethics committee – and without the committee’s recommendations to be presented to the plenary for adoption – the Senate leadership has no basis to sanction dela Rosa.
“As far as sanctioning senators or congressmen, only the Ethics Committee can make recommendations. And in the absence of any complaint filed before the Ethics Committee which was constituted only recently, the Senate President or Senate leadership has no basis to sanction him. That includes the possible withholding of salary for the time he does not report for work,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.
In Filipino: Lacson: Senate Ethics Committee Lang ang Maaaring Magpasimula ng Parusa vs Sen. dela Rosa
He said the Ethics Committee chaired by Sen. JV Ejercito is now waiting for an ethics complaint to be filed so it can take action. He said the committee is expected to hold an organizational meeting next week.
Also, Lacson noted former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV indicated he may file a complaint in May, six months after dela Rosa stopped reporting for work.
When asked if dela Rosa’s prolonged absence may become grounds for his expulsion from the Senate, Lacson said it is up to the ethics committee.
“It is up to the ethics committee to make the proper interpretation. A serious offense must be a basis for suspension or expulsion, and such an action must have the votes of two-thirds of senators in plenary,” he said.
But Lacson also pointed out that dela Rosa’s office is still functioning as it continues to file bills and resolutions.
“His office is still functioning. And in case it comes to that, should the plenary decide to withhold Sen. dela Rosa’s salary, his staff would likely be spared and will continue to receive their salaries because they are still reporting for work,” he said.
In the meantime, Lacson said dela Rosa has not communicated with him. Lacson said he has asked Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go to relay to dela Rosa’s wife a message asking how he is doing.
“I talked to Sen. Bong Go and asked him if dela Rosa is communicating with him. He said he is not, so he relayed his messages to dela Rosa’s wife. I asked him to relay my message to his wife asking how he is doing,” he said.
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Lacson: Senate Ethics Committee Lang ang Maaaring Magpasimula ng Parusa vs Sen. dela Rosa
Tanging ang Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges lamang ang maaaring magpasimula ng nararapat na parusa laban kay Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa — kabilang ang posibleng pagpapatalsik — dahil sa matagal nitong pagliban, diin ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ngayong Huwebes.
Diin ni Lacson, kung walang reklamong inihain sa ethics committee at walang rekomendasyon ang komite na ihaharap sa plenaryo para pagtibayin, walang batayan ang pamunuan ng Senado upang magpataw ng anumang parusa kay dela Rosa.
“Ang pag-sanction ng senador or congressman, ang pwede lang magrekomenda niyan ang Ethics Committee. So in the absence of any complaint na nai-file sa ethics committee na ka-constitute lang, walang basehan ang Senate President o liderato ng Senado para lapatan siya ng maski anong sanction o parusa. Kasama doon ang posibleng huwag paswelduhin sa panahon na hindi siya nagre-report,” aniya sa panayam sa DZMM.
Dagdag niya, naghihintay ang Ethics Committee na pinamumunuan ni Sen. JV Ejercito ng pormal na reklamo upang makakilos, at inaasahang magkakaroon ito ng organizational meeting sa susunod na linggo.
Ani Lacson, ipinahiwatig ni dating Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV na maaari itong maghain ng reklamo sa Mayo, anim na buwan mula nang tumigil si dela Rosa sa pagdalo sa mga sesyon.
Nang tanungin kung maaaring maging batayan ng pagpapatalsik sa Senado ang matagal na pagliban ni dela Rosa, sinabi ni Lacson na nakasalalay ito sa interpretasyon ng ethics committee.
“Nasa sa ethics committee na yan kung paano interpretation nila kasi kailangan serious offense bago umabot sa pagtanggal o pagsuspinde. At 2/3 ang kailangan na boto sa buong plenaryo,” aniya.
Gayunman, binigyang-diin ni Lacson na patuloy na gumagana ang tanggapan ni dela Rosa at patuloy itong nakapaghahain ng mga panukalang batas at resolusyon.
“Patuloy na nagfa-function ang office. And in case it comes to that, magkaroon ng decision sa plenary based on the recommendation na huwag paswelduhin, malamang sa hindi, di namin idadamay ang kanyang staff. Tutuloy ang sweldo ng staff, after all under sila sa opisina para magtrabaho,” aniya.
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na wala pa siyang direktang komunikasyon kay dela Rosa. Aniya, kinausap niya si Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go upang maiparating sa asawa ni dela Rosa ang kanyang pangungumusta.
“Nagkausap na kami ni Sen. Go. Tinanong ko sa kanya kumusta na Sen. Bato, meron ba kayong communication? Wala, hindi sumasagot sa kanya, so nire-relay na lang niya ang kanyang pangungumusta sa misis ni Sen. Bato. Ako nagpasabi na rin ako pakisabi na rin pakikumusta mo na lang ako,” aniya.
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