MANILA, Philippines – Iginiit ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson na walang hurisdiksyon ang Senado sa ethics complaint na inihain laban kay Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero at kaparehong kaso na ihahain pa rito.
Ngayong buwan ay naghain kasi ng reklamo si Atty. Marvin Aceron laban kay Escudero.
Nag-ugat ito sa P30 milyong campaign contribution na natanggap umano mula sa isang kaibigang contractor noong May 2022 elections.
Dahil dito ay pinalutang ni Lacson ang posibilidad na maaaring magrekomenda ang Office of the Ombudsman ng kaparehong reklamo laban kay Sen. Joel Villanueva sa kaugnayan umano nito sa pork barrel scam nang ito ay representative pa ng Cibac party-list.
Sa kabila nito, sinabi ni Lacson na ang mga nagawa nina Escudero at Villanueva ay nangyari bago pa sila mahalal sa Senado.
“The jurisdiction of the Senate committee on ethics does not cover offenses allegedly committed by the members of the Senate before being elected as senators,” paliwanag ni Lacson.
“Both Sens. Escudero and Villanueva were not sitting senators when the alleged violations were committed. Hence, they may raise a jurisdictional issue at the proper time, unless the said rule has been amended,” dagdag pa ng senador.
Ibinahagi niya ang nangyari noong 2001 nang siya ay sampahan ng ethics case sa unang termino niya bilang senador.
Nang panahong iyon, sinabi ni Lacson na siya ay “was subjected to all forms of harassment, including fabricated and fictitious bank accounts, illegal drugs, and other trumped-up charges” habang siya ay police chief pa.
“When we read the rules, we discovered such a provision, which I invoked, and thereafter, the ethics complaint was dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction,” paliwanag pa niya. RNT/JGC
