Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday reminded fellow senators to observe proper conduct as potential senator-judges, should the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte be transmitted to the Senate.
Lacson stressed the need for senators to be perceived as impartial – taking care that their words and actions must not give the impression that they are aligned with the prosecution or the defense.
“We must understand that we should not be perceived as part of the prosecution or defense panel. We must listen to the prosecution teams and the cross-examinations of the prosecution witnesses by the defense team and vice versa – all while taking down notes to help us reach an informed decision,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.
“We speak only if we have clarificatory questions to ask. We cannot sound like members of the prosecution or defense panel, that would not be good,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson, Pinapaalalahanan ang Kapwa Senador sa Tamang Asal bilang Posibleng Senator-Judges sa VP Impeachment Trial
Lacson said the senators are expected to discuss the possible impeachment trial, including the schedule he had proposed to balance the senators’ legislative and impeachment trial proceedings.
He also said he sympathizes with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who faces a heavy load in presiding over the potential impeachment trial.
“SP Sotto has a heavy load on his shoulders. I can only sympathize with him because he potentially must rule whether to sustain or overrule objections to questions by either prosecution or defense,” he said.
In the meantime, Lacson maintained the evidence will remain his sole guide in making his decision in the potential impeachment trial. He said he is taking tutorials on the conduct of trials in court.
“I will be fair, that’s why I don’t comment on the merits of the issue. I will follow whatever evidence will come out, along with the rules of the impeachment proceedings. I will not look at any other factors,” he said.
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Lacson, Pinapaalalahanan ang Kapwa Senador sa Tamang Asal bilang Posibleng Senator-Judges sa VP Impeachment Trial
Pinapaalalahanan ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Linggo ang kapwa niyang senador na pairalin ang tamang asal bilang mga posibleng senator-judges, sakaling maipasa sa Senado ang impeachment case laban kay Bise Presidente Sara Duterte.
Binigyang-diin ni Lacson ang pangangailangang manatiling itinuturing na walang kinikilingan ang mga senador, at tiyaking ang kanilang mga salita at kilos ay hindi magbibigay ng impresyon na sila ay panig sa prosekusyon o depensa.
“Importanteng maunawaan namin na hindi kami lumalabas na parang prosecutor o kaya defense panel. Kailangan kami nakikinig lang kami sa tanong ng prosecution team at pag-cross-examine ng defense sa prosecution witness and vice versa, at nagta-take down kami ng notes para magkaroon ng informed decision,” aniya sa panayam sa DZBB radio.
“At kung meron kaming di maliwanagan dun lang kami papasok at magtatanong ng clarificatory questions. Hindi kami pwedeng mag-sound na parang member ng prosecution panel or defense panel kasi di magandang pangitain yan,” dagdag niya.
Inaasahang tatalakayin ng mga senador ang posibleng impeachment trial, kabilang ang iskedyul na kanyang iminungkahi upang maibalanse ang gawaing lehislatibo at ang posibleng paglilitis, ani Lacson.
Nagpahayag din siya ng simpatiya kay Senate President Vicente Sotto III, na inaasahang haharap sa mabigat na responsibilidad sa pagpreside ng posibleng impeachment trial.
“Ang mabigat na nakaatang sa balikat kay SP Sotto. I can only sympathize with him kasi siya magru-rule pag may issue. Halimbawa may pagtatalo ang prosecution at defense, ano ang susundin niya, isu-sustain niya ang tanong o io-overrule niya? Importante yan,” aniya.
Muling iginiit ni Lacson na ang ebidensiya lamang ang kanyang magiging batayan sa desisyon sakaling matuloy ang impeachment trial, at sinabing patuloy siyang nag-aaral ng mga proseso ng paglilitis sa korte.
“Magiging patas ako. Kaya ayoko mag-comment whatsoever. Kung anong lalabas na evidence at susundin ko kung anong nakapaloob sa aming rules of impeachment kung ano sa aking discretion bilang huwes ang magiging boto ko ibabase ko lamang doon. Walang ibang factor na titingnan,” aniya.
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