LIST: Notable ethics complaints filed vs. senators

Lawmakers are not exempt from ethical review. While they are expected to uphold high ethical standards and integrity as public servants, some of them, past and current, may have to undergo public scrutiny due to alleged corruption, negligence of duty, or violation of the code of conduct, among others. 

The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, composed of seven members, is primarily in charge of all matters relating to the conduct, rights, privileges, safety, dignity, integrity, and reputation of the Senate and its members. Ethics complaints against senators may be filed by a colleague in government or any Filipino citizen.

Based on Section 97 of the Senate Rules, the Senate may punish any member for disorderly behavior and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the entire membership, suspend or expel a member upon the committee's recommendation. A penalty of suspension shall not exceed 60 calendar days.

Here are some notable complaints filed with the Ethics committee in the past:  

Alan Peter Cayetano

In 2024, then-senator and now Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay filed an ethics complaint against Senator Alan Peter Cayetano over his remarks against her during their heated exchange in an inquiry on the new Senate building.

During the hearing, Cayetano called Binay "marites," a Filipino slang for rumor-mongerer. He also told her "Nabuang ka na, 'day (You're losing your mind)," and accused her of disturbing the Senate hearing.

Cayetano launched the inquiry into the new Senate building in Taguig City after then-Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero ordered a review of the cost of its construction, noting that funding already reached P23 billion.

Binay, who walked out of the hearing, denied that the cost had reached P23 billion, saying it was only P21 billion.

The Senate ethics committee later approved an amendment to its rule where a reconciliation process would be held before conducting the hearings on a filed complaint.

Then-committee chairperson, former senator Francis Tolentino, had said a closed-door conciliation meeting would be held between Cayetano and Binay, as suggested by Escudero. 

Cayetano described the planned conciliation process between him and Binay as a "good idea," but said he won't be distracted in reviewing the New Senate Building's cost. Binay, on the other hand, said she was not closing her doors to reconcile with Cayetano. Public records are not immediately available as to whether or not this meeting pushed through.

Antonio Trillanes IV

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV faced multiple ethics complaints during his tenure. One of which was filed by his colleague, former senator Richard Gordon in 2017, based on Trillanes' supposed damaging and offensive language.

The two senators locked horns during a blue ribbon probe on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment that was smuggled from China. Gordon and then-Senate Majority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III represented the committee at the time.

Trillanes back then said the panel should not be "lawyering" for former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte and lawyer Manases Carpio—son and son-in-law, respectively, of former president Rodrigo Duterte—and should instead summon them to the hearing.

The Senate ethics committee found the complaint filed by Gordon against Trillanes sufficient in form and substance, except for one ground in relation to the two coup d'etat attempts he participated in the past.

Former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon also filed an ethics complaint against Trillanes for allegedly engaging in improper conduct, abuse of right and privilege, and serious misconduct.

This complaint was junked by the ethics committee in 2018. 

Also in 2017, an ethics complaint was filed against Trillanes for his bribery claim against two justices of the Court of Appeals in April 2015, and for calling former President Duterte a "murderer." 

Richard Gordon

Trillanes, in return, also filed an ethics complaint against Gordon in 2017 for supposed unparliamentary and unethical acts as then-senator and chairman of the blue ribbon committee.

He likewise filed a plunder complaint against Gordon over the latter's alleged corrupt practices as chairman of the Philippine Red Cross.

The resolution of the complaint was not publicly available. 

Ping Lacson

Faeldon in 2017 also asked the Senate to penalize Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson for dragging him into the corruption mess hounding the Bureau of Customs and accusing him of accepting bribes. 

The former BOC commissioner accused Lacson of violating his constitutional right to be presumed innocent, abuse of parliamentary immunity, and serious misconduct. Faeldon also said Lacson is "clearly guilty" of character assassination.

The ethics committee dismissed the complaint in 2018. 

Vicente "Tito" Sotto III

In 2017, Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, now president of the Senate, was slapped with an ethics complaint by a group of women over his controversial remark about single mothers during a confirmation hearing of then-Social Welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

During Taguiwalo's hearing before the Commission on Appointments, Sotto joked about her being a solo parent, saying in street parlance, single mothers are called "na-ano lang."

The complaint was dismissed by the ethics committee in the same year for lack of jurisdiction.

In 2012, Sotto also faced an ethics complaint for alleged plagiarism in his speeches.

A lawyer and another group later asked the Senate panel to dismiss the ethics complaint against Sotto. 

Leila de Lima

Several ethics complaints were also filed against incumbent House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima when she was still a senator. One of the complaints filed against her in 2016 was based on Rodrigo Duterte's allegations that she was supposedly involved in drug operations during her term as Justice Secretary.

In the same year, House leaders filed a complaint against De Lima, claiming she "clearly interfered" in the House inquiry into the alleged illegal trade inside the New Bilibid Prison.

The complaint stemmed from De Lima's alleged attempt to prevent her former driver Ronnie Dayan from attending a congressional probe.

The ethics panel dismissed the complaints against De Lima in 2018.

Pia Cayetano

In 2012, an ethics complaint was also filed against Senator Pia Cayetano for alleged plagiarism. 

The complainant, who was a private citizen, cited two instances of alleged plagiarism in Cayetano's speeches.

The resolution of the complaint was not publicly available.

Manny Villar

In 2008, then-senator Maria Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal filed an ethics complaint against her colleague, then-senator Manuel Villar Jr., for alleged involvement in the C-5 road extension project. 

Back then, Villar was accused of causing the realignment of the C-5 road extension project to benefit properties registered in the name of corporations that he and his family own and control. 

There was also a supposed conflict of interest on Villar's part when he failed to divest his interest in corporations whose properties were acquired by the government for road right of way for the Las Piñas-Parañaque road.

Come 2009, a total of 12 senators signed a resolution urging the Senate to junk the ethics complaint against Villar, who was then a presidential aspirant for the 2010 elections. 

The Senate Committee of the Whole later found that Villar—who is among the richest Filipinos—violated Section 12, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The committee also wanted Villar to return to the government the P6.22 billion his company allegedly gained through illegal means from the construction of the C-5 road extension. 

Villar, in return, denied allegations of corruption and blamed his political rivals.

Juan Ponce Enrile

The late senator Juan Ponce Enrile also faced multiple ethics complaints during his long stint in the upper chamber. 

In 2013, the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago lodged an ethics complaint against him for supposed "disorderly behavior." Enrile had delivered a privileged speech where he lashed out at his "obsessive hater," apparently referring to Santiago.

In 2006, former senator Rene Saguisag also filed an ethics complaint against Enrile for allegedly pursuing personal interests during hearings on the Philippine Communications Satellite Corp. (Philcomsat) controversy.

The results of these complaints were also not publicly available.

Heherson Alvarez

In 1995, then-senator Heherson “Sonny” Alvarez was criticized for writing a letter to then-National Police Director General Recaredo Sarmiento that cleared an official allegedly involved in a pyramiding scam in the police force. 

Alvarez wrote the letter while he was chairman of the Blue Ribbon committee, which, at that time, was still investigating the matter. 

The ethics committee, then headed by Senator Juan Flavier, found that there was lack of care in Alvarez's actions when the latter drafted and transmitted the letter. 

According to a Senate press release, Alvarez was among the few members of the Congress who were sanctioned since 1924 due to an ethics complaint.

20th Congress

Under the current Congress, nine complaints have been lodged before the ethics committee. Some of the incumbent senators who may face a possible probe include Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Risa Hontiveros, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, and even JV Ejercito, the current committee chairman. 

Ejercito announced Thursday, April 16, 2026, that the ethics committee is now set to proceed with its work after securing enough signatures for its rules, which are already poised for publication. 

He has also stood firm that the panel will hear all complaints based on the "first in, first out” basis, depending on whether or not they comply with form and substance. 

Deciding on complaints

If a complaint is found to have complied with the required form and substance, a copy will be transmitted to the respondent within five days.

The panel will then conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine whether substantial credible evidence exists. If evidence is found, the committee will decide on the appropriate action through a vote, which may include proceeding to an adjudicatory hearing.

If none is found, the complaint will be dismissed.

Rule 44, Section 123 of the existing Senate Rules states that all pending matters and proceedings shall terminate upon the expiration of one Congress, but may be taken by the succeeding Congress as if presented for the first time.

— VDV, GMA Integrated News