The Supreme Court’s ruling on the unconstitutionality of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case must be accepted and respected, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.
Lacson said this is a matter of respecting the rule of law, as he pointed out that his sentiment would have been the same even if the high court ruled otherwise.
“Agree or disagree, right or wrong, just or unjust, faultless or defective – we must accept and respect the SC ruling on the unconstitutionality of VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment case. They are not called the ‘gods of Padre Faura’ for nothing,” he said on his X account.
“This is not about politics or who gains or loses. If the SC ruling went the other way, my sentiment would be the same. Simply put, it is about respecting the rule of law,” he added.
In FIlipino: Lacson: Rule of Law Dapat Igalang sa SC Ruling sa Impeachment Case ni VP Duterte
On Thursday, the Supreme Court denied with finality the House of Representatives’ appeal to reverse its ruling last July 25, which declared unconstitutional the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President.
SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting was quoted as saying the high court voted to uphold that the fourth impeachment complaint against the Vice President was covered by the one-year bar rule where impeachment proceedings cannot be initiated against the same official more than once within one year.
Earlier, Lacson pointed out that the rule of law may end up as the biggest loser if the high court’s decision on the impeachment case is not followed.
“My view is that the High Court is the final arbiter and interpreter of the Constitution. We can expect no interpretation of the law other than the Supreme Court,” he said.
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Lacson: Rule of Law Dapat Igalang sa SC Ruling sa Impeachment Case ni VP Duterte
Dapat tanggapin at igalang ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema tungkol sa pagiging unconstitutional ng impeachment case laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Biyernes.
Binigyang diin ni Lacson na usapin ito ng paggalang sa rule of law, sabay giit na pareho pa rin ang kanyang magiging paninindigan kahit pa kabaligtaran ang naging pasya ng mataas na hukuman.
“Agree or disagree, right or wrong, just or unjust, faultless or defective – we must accept and respect the SC ruling on the unconstitutionality of VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment case. They are not called the ‘gods of Padre Faura’ for nothing,” ani Lacson sa kanyang X account.
“This is not about politics or who gains or loses. If the SC ruling went the other way, my sentiment would be the same. Simply put, it is about respecting the rule of law,” dagdag niya.
Noong Huwebes, tuluyan nang ibinasura ng Korte Suprema ang apela ng Kamara na baligtarin ang desisyon nito noong Hulyo 25, na nagdeklara na labag sa Konstitusyon ang Articles of Impeachment laban sa Bise Presidente.
Ayon kay Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting, bumoto ang mataas na hukuman upang panindigan na ang ikaapat na impeachment complaint laban sa Bise Presidente ay saklaw ng one-year bar rule, na nagsasaad na hindi maaaring magsimula ng impeachment proceedings laban sa parehong opisyal nang higit sa isang beses sa loob ng isang taon.
Ipinunto na ni Lacson noon na ang rule of law ang magiging “biggest loser” kung sinuway ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema tungkol sa impeachment case ni Vice President Duterte.
“My view is that the High Court is the final arbiter and interpreter of the Constitution. We can expect no interpretation of the law other than the Supreme Court,” aniya.
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