The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges is proceeding with its investigation of the complaints filed against Sen. Leila M. de Lima as a result of her infamous advise to former aide and lover, Ronnie Dayan, to snub the House Committee on Justice hearing on the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III said the panel has consolidated the complaints of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairperson of the House Committee on Justice, which led the investigation, and that of lawyer Abelardo de Jesus and decided that it has form and substance because the act was committed when De Lima became a senator.
They dismissed the other complaints since the acts contained in the complaints happened when she was still the Department of Justice Secretary.
“After she receives the copies of the complaint we will ask her to submit her reply within 15 days. And then, we decide after we listen and hear or read her answers, what to do with the complaints, whether a full blown hearing is necessary or we will accept her explanation or whatever, it depends,” Sotto said. (Hannah L. Torregoza)