Should the Senate convene as an impeachment court to try the case of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, it may designate an impeachment manager to ensure the orderly flow of the proceedings, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.
At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Lacson said they are initially considering Sen. Francis Pangilinan for the job, due to his background as a lawyer.
“We’re planning to appoint an impeachment manager. Baka si Sen. Pangilinan as lawyer,” Lacson said. “Mas mainam ang lawyer na sanay sa trial para more or less ma-signal si Senate President na an objection would be overruled or sustained (It is better that the impeachment manager is a lawyer, who can guide the Senate President acting as the presiding judge on whether an objection would be overruled or sustained).”
In Filipino: Lacson: Impeachment Manager, Kinokonsidera Para Tiyakin ang Maayos na Daloy ng Posibleng VP Trial
He said Senate majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri suggested the idea, and Senate President Vicente Sotto III was “amenable” to it.
Lacson said Sotto wants the impeachment manager to “shepherd” or guide the proceedings, like the majority leader in the Senate.
“Sabi ni Senate President, pwedeng mag-designate ng impeachment manager na senador. Parang siya mag-shepherd aside from the SP, siya ang bastonero sa floor. Parang de facto majority leader (The Senate President said we can designate an impeachment manager from among the senators, to help shepherd the proceedings like a de facto majority leader),” he added.
Meanwhile, Lacson said a possible impeachment trial may proceed without stopping the Senate’s committee hearings and regular sessions.
He stressed the need to continue legislative work including committee hearings and sessions, especially for priority measures.
“Ngayon may priority bills. Pag hinto mo, paralyzed ang legislative work (There are priority bills for us to pass. If we stop the committee hearings to give way to the impeachment trial, legislative work would be paralyzed),” he said.
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Lacson: Impeachment Manager, Kinokonsidera Para Tiyakin ang Maayos na Daloy ng Posibleng VP Trial
Kung mag-convene ang Senado bilang impeachment court para litisin ang kaso ni Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, maaaring magtalaga ng impeachment manager upang matiyak ang maayos na daloy ng mga paglilitis, ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson noong Miyerkules.
Sa Kapihan sa Senado forum, sinabi ni Lacson na unang kinokonsidera si Sen. Francis Pangilinan para sa posisyon, dahil sa kanyang background bilang abogado.
“We’re planning to appoint an impeachment manager. Baka si Sen. Pangilinan as lawyer,” ani Lacson. “Mas mainam ang lawyer na sanay sa trial para more or less ma-signal si Senate President na an objection would be overruled or sustained.”
Ayon pa sa kanya, iminungkahi ni Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri ang ideya, at si Senate President Vicente Sotto III ay “amenable” dito.
Dagdag ni Lacson, nais ni Sotto na ang impeachment manager ay magsilbing “shepherd” o gabay sa proseso, katulad ng majority leader sa Senado.
“Sabi ni Senate President, pwedeng mag-designate ng impeachment manager na senador. Parang siya mag-shepherd aside from the SP, siya ang bastonero sa floor. Parang de facto majority leader,” aniya.
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na ang posibleng impeachment trial ay maaaring tumuloy nang hindi itinitigil ang mga committee hearings at regular na sesyon ng Senado.
Binigyang-diin niya ang pangangailangang ipagpatuloy ang legislative work, kabilang ang committee hearings at plenary sessions, lalo na para sa mga priority measures.
“Ngayon may priority bills. Pag hinto mo, paralyzed ang legislative work,” aniya.
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