Debates on rules marked the first few hours of Monday's Senate's hearing on the ethics complaint against Senator Manuel Villar.

Lawyers took turns asking Johnmuel Mendoza, legal counsel of the Senate ethics committee, about the procedure for the hearing.

The hearing began Monday without Senator Villar who is on a trip to Spain.

Earlier, Villar said he is ready to face allegations that he benefitted from the C-5 road project, but he sees no need to defend himself before his fellow senators.

In his opening statement, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile appealed to members of the committee to exercise "civility, courtesy, and sobriety" during the hearing.

"Let us act with strict adherence to the rules to ensure that we respect the rights of both the accuser and the accused to be heard, to present their charges, evidence, rebuttals, and defenses, as well as the right of each member of the committee to equal opportunity in participating in this process," Enrile said.

"It is our duty as well to give our colleague the full opportunity to defend himself and clear his name and his integrity of any cloud of doubt resulting from the charges against him," he added. -- report from ANC