If such a situation arises, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is prepared to oppose and vote against any motion to stop or delay the Senate’s convening as an impeachment court for the possible case of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Lacson also stressed that the Constitution and its legal mechanisms are in place to address any possible issues related to a potential impeachment trial, including moves to block the Senate from convening as an impeachment court.
“For context, I did not say I will not oppose and vote against any motion to stop or delay the convening of the Senate into an impeachment court, if it comes to that. That said, the Senate is a collegial, deliberative body that is always ruled by the vote of the majority,” he said in a post on X.
“If this constitutional issue arises, the Supreme Court may intervene to compel the Senate to perform our constitutional duty,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson, Tututulan ang Mosyong Pipigil sa Pag-Convene ng Senado Bilang Impeachment Court
For context, I did not say I will not oppose and vote against any motion to stop or delay the convening of the senate into an impeachment court, if it comes to that. That said, the senate is a collegial, deliberative body that is always ruled by the vote of the majority.
If this…— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) May 8, 2026
Lacson also made it clear that opposing the motion to stop or delay the Senate from convening as an impeachment court should not be interpreted as a vote to convict or acquit – but as an assertion of the Senate’s constitutional duty to convene as such.
He reiterated that the evidence will be his guide in deciding whether to convict or acquit, should the impeachment trial push through.
“This position to oppose any attempt to block the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court has nothing to do with my decision to convict or acquit the respondent as I will always be guided by the evidence to be presented and nothing else,” he stressed.
At the Kapihan sa Senado last May 6, Lacson pointed out that senators must be prepared to address possible issues surrounding the impeachment process, including a hypothetical situation where a motion is raised to stop the Senate from convening as an impeachment court and the matter is put to a vote.
He noted that such an issue could reach the Supreme Court, as conducting the impeachment trial is a constitutional duty of the Senate.
“Constitutional duty yan. (The ones who move to stop the convening into an impeachment court) must be able to convince the majority to vote in their favor (The impeachment trial is a constitutional duty. The ones who move to stop the convening into an impeachment court must be able to convince the majority to vote in their favor),” he said.
“Kung ganoon ang mangyari, it’s on them. Sila ang sumagot sa taumbayan kung bakit ayaw mag-convene (If that happens, it’s on them. They must explain to the people why they don’t want the Senate to convene into an impeachment court),” he added.
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Lacson, Tututulan ang Mosyong Pipigil sa Pag-Convene ng Senado Bilang Impeachment Court
Kung sakaling mangyari ang ganitong sitwasyon, handa si Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson na tutulan at bumoto laban sa anumang mosyon na maglalayong pigilan o ipagpaliban ang pag-convene ng Senado bilang impeachment court para sa posibleng kaso ni Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Binigyang-diin din ni Lacson na nakalatag na ang Konstitusyon at ang mga legal na mekanismo upang tugunan ang anumang isyu kaugnay ng impeachment trial, kabilang ang mga hakbang na maglalayong pigilan ang pag-convene ng Senado bilang impeachment court.
“For context, I did not say I will not oppose and vote against any motion to stop or delay the convening of the Senate into an impeachment court, if it comes to that. That said, the Senate is a collegial, deliberative body that is always ruled by the vote of the majority,” aniya sa isang post sa X.
“If this constitutional issue arises, the Supreme Court may intervene to compel the Senate to perform our constitutional duty,” dagdag niya.
Ipinunto din ni Lacson na ang pagtutol sa anumang mosyon na maglalayong pigilan o ipagpaliban ang pag-convene ng Senado bilang impeachment court ay hindi dapat ituring bilang boto para mag-convict o mag-acquit, kundi bilang paggiit sa konstitusyonal na tungkulin ng Senado na mag-convene bilang ganito.
Muli niyang idiniin na ang ebidensiya ang magiging batayan niya sa pagpapasya kung magko-convict o mag-aacquit sakaling matuloy ang impeachment trial.
“This position to oppose any attempt to block the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court has nothing to do with my decision to convict or acquit the respondent as I will always be guided by the evidence to be presented and nothing else,” giit ng mambabatas.
Sa Kapihan sa Senado noong Mayo 6, binigyang-diin ni Lacson na dapat maging handa ang mga senador sa pagharap sa mga posibleng isyu kaugnay ng impeachment process, kabilang ang hypothetical na sitwasyon kung saan may mosyon na pigilan ang pag-convene ng Senado bilang impeachment court at ilalagay ito sa botohan.
Ipinunto niya na maaaring umabot sa Korte Suprema ang ganitong usapin, dahil ang pagsasagawa ng impeachment trial ay isang konstitusyonal na tungkulin ng Senado.
“Constitutional duty yan. (The ones who move to stop the convening into an impeachment court) must be able to convince the majority to vote in their favor,” aniya.
“Kung ganoon ang mangyari, it’s on them. Sila ang sumagot sa taumbayan kung bakit ayaw mag-convene,” dagdag pa niya.
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