The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate would likely “cross over” to the 20th Congress, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.
Citing practical reasons, Lacson said the 19th Congress will not have enough time to convene and conduct the trial before adjourning sine die in the last week of June.
Also, Lacson noted the Senate assumes a different personality in an impeachment trial, where senator-judges’ work will be more judicial than legislative in nature.
“My humble opinion as a layman is that as an impeachment court, the Senate will act not as a legislative body but as a separate constitutional body,” he said in English at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
“In an impeachment trial, the Senate will not perform legislative acts but will tackle an impeachment trial,” he added.
Related: Ping Lacson: VP Impeachment Trial, Malamang na Mag-Crossover sa 20th Congress
Also, Lacson noted the Senate as an impeachment court can be considered a continuing body, even if new members join it in the 20th Congress.
Citing several legal luminaries, he said the Senate as an impeachment court can be likened to a division of the Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals, or even Supreme Court.
“Even if a member of the division retires, the case will not stop, nor will it be removed from the jurisdiction of the Senate as an impeachment court,” aniya.
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Ping Lacson: VP Impeachment Trial, Malamang na Mag-Crossover sa 20th Congress
Malaki ang tsansa na mag-crossover sa 20th Congress ang impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte, ayon kay dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ngayong Miyerkules.
Ani Lacson, wala nang sapat na panahon ang 19th Congress para mag-convene at sundan ang mga proseso para magsagawa ng trial bago mag-adjournment sine die sa huling linggo ng Hunyo.
Dagdag ni Lacson, magkakaroon ng ibang personalidad ang Senado sa impeachment trial, dahil ang gawain ng mga senator-judges dito ay mas malapit sa huwes at hindi mambabatas.
“My humble opinion being a layman, as an impeachment court, hindi nag-a-act ang Senate as a legislative body. Hindi legislative action ang called kundi ibang constitutional body na yan,” aniya sa Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
“Iba ang personality ng Senate, impeachment court ito, hindi magsasagawa ng legislative act kundi mag-tackle ng impeachment trial,” dagdag niya.
Dagdag pa ni Lacson, maaaring ituring ang Senado bilang impeachment court na isang “continuing body,” kahit na may aalis matapos sa 19th Congress at may bagong papasok sa 20th Congress.
Aniya, maraming legal luminaries na ang nagsabi na ang Senado bilang impeachment court ay maaaring ihalintulad sa dibisyon ng Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals, o kahit ang Korte Suprema.
“Pag may nag-retire na member ang division, hindi hihinto ang kaso… Hindi mahihinto ang kaso at hindi ililipat. Hindi mawawalan ng jurisdiction ang division maski may umalis at may pumalit na justice,” aniya.
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