Ethics rap vs. Sotto dismissed for lack of jurisdiction

The Senate ethics committee on Monday dismissed the complaint filed against Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III for lack of jurisdiction.

It was Senator Panfilo Lacson who approved the motion after taking over the chairmanship of the committee. Sotto is the chairman of the ethics committee.

The complaint filed against Sotto stemmed from the controversial remark he made during the confirmation hearing of former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

Sotto appeared to have insulted single mother Taguiwalo, saying the latter was “na-ano lang.” The senator said it was just a joke.

This earned the ire of netizens and solo parents. A group of women filed an ethics complaint against Sotto last May.

The Commission on Appointments rejected Taguiwalo as Social Welfare secretary last month. —ALG, GMA News