SENATE  Ethics Committee Chair JV Ejercito on Tuesday dismissed claims that he has been delaying ethics cases against colleagues, following a citizen complaint accusing him of precisely that.

Ejercito explained that the committee cannot act because the Senate has not formally constituted its membership.

“The Committee on Ethics and Privileges cannot yet hold meetings at this time or conduct hearings since its membership has yet to be formally manifested during plenary session,” he said.

He noted that Senate focus on budget hearings delayed formalizing the committee’s composition. Meetings and hearings can begin once the minority bloc nominates its members and the full list is read on the Senate floor.

The majority bloc has named Sens. Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, and Erwin Tulfo to the panel. Senate leaders Panfilo Lacson, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Alan Peter Cayetano are included by virtue of their positions.

“‘Yun pong kulang na lang natin is Sen. Joel Villanueva for minority and one more. So I’m hoping that the minority can send us already their nominee for the Ethics Committee,” Ejercito said.

He also denied that his friendship with Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, a respondent in one complaint, influenced the panel’s inaction.

“There are already four or five complaints in the Ethics Committee. Pang-apat ‘yong kay Senator Chiz. Hindi naman pwedeng dahil gusto mong unahin yung sa’yo na complaint, eh unahin,” he said.

Ejercito said he could inhibit from hearings involving the complaint against him and that a vice chair could preside instead.

“But I don’t think there’s really grounds for it,” he added.

He said the committee will decide on potential penalties, noting that under the Constitution, lawmakers may be expelled or suspended by a two-thirds vote of their colleagues.