MANILA, Philippines – The Senate ethics panel Monday, September 11, dismissed the complaint filed against committee chair and Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III over his controversial “na-ano” remark. (Got knocked up.)

It was Senator Panfilo Lacson, vice chair, who handled the case since the chairman,  Sotto, was the subject of the complaint.

Lacson said the Commission on Appointments has jurisdiction on the case, citing CA rules saying the body has its own ethics committee

“Having said that, I’m not asking for a vote or an action to be taken, but at the outset, I would like to inform members there is an issue of jurisdiction. The vice chair is inclined to dismiss the case on the issue of lack of jurisdiction,” Lacson said during the hearing.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, a member of the panel, shared Lacson’s view. Drilon said he was beside Sotto when he uttered those words in the confirmation hearing of former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

Drilon then moved to dismiss the case.

“Clearly a matter that was uttered during a session of the Commission on Appointments. The matter is within the proper jurisdiction of the ethics committee in the CA, not in the Senate. No objection to its dismissal from the committee,” Drilon said.

With no objection, Lacson made the decision final.

“The issue is now properly disposed of. The complaint against Senator Sotto is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction,” Lacson said.

Sotto earlier drew flak for his controversial statement about single mothers in a Commission on Appointments hearing. Sotto apologized publicly, saying it was meant to be a joke and should not be taken seriously. (READ: Sotto insults single mother DSWD chief Taguiwalo: ‘Na-ano lang’)

In 2012, an ethics complaint was also filed against Sotto for alleged plagiarism but the complaint did not prosper. – Rappler.com