Senate ethics body to tackle complaint vs De Lima
Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, chair of the ethics committee, listens during the hearing on the alleged extrajudicial killings amid the government campaign against illegal drugs at the Senate on Aug. 23. RICHARD A. REYES/INQUIRER
The Senate committee on ethics will convene next week and discuss the complaint filed against Sen. Leila de Lima, who is being dragged into the illegal drug trade, according to Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Sotto, who chairs the Senate committee on rules, was elected chair of the ethics committee on Tuesday, a day before the complaint was reportedly filed against De Lima.
READ: De Lima faces ethics complaint in Senate
“I will call for an organizational meeting next week then we will see how the committee will appraise the complaint or affidavit,” Sotto said in a text message on Wednesday.
He said he was informed that the complaint was filed by a lawyer but he had yet to read and review it.
“I was told that an affidavit or complaint was filed by a lawyer against Senator De Lima,” he said. “I still have to read and review the said affidavit.”
Sotto assured that he would be impartial in handling the complaint should the committee find merit to look into it.
“They elected me as chairman of ethics, siguro naman I have the trust and confidence of our members,” he said in a separate interview.
“They know that I will be impartial dahil kabigan ko naman lahat e,” Sotto added.
De Lima has been accused by President Rodrido Duterte of being an “immoral woman” for allegedly having an affair with her former driver, who he said had collected drug money for her at the National Bilibid Prison.
Duterte said he would also release probably this week a matrix showing De Lima’s alleged role in illegal drugs.
De Lima, who served as justice secretary before she was elected senator, has repeatedly denied any drug links.
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