Senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte who are facing arrest and detention may still participate in the proceedings without resorting to online attendance or voting, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.
Lacson said this will remain in compliance with the Rules of the Senate, where online or remote participation and voting is allowed only in cases of force majeure or extreme circumstances, and in national emergencies.
“One remedy is for the Impeachment Court to ask the Sandiganbayan or any court/s to which their cases would be assigned for ‘leave of court,’ and if granted, order the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology or their custodian/s to escort them to the Senate so they may participate in the impeachment trial of the Vice President. The senator-judges will be physically present,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.
“Work-from-jail is not allowed,” he added. “We cannot allow online participation because that is reserved for force majeure and national emergencies.”
In Filipino: Lacson: Senator-Judges Na Nahaharap sa Pag-Aresto, Pwede Pang Makilahok sa Impeachment Trial na Hindi Mag-Online
Presently, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa faces arrest by virtue of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, in connection with the anti-drug war of the Duterte administration. He is in hiding.
Other senators face possible plunder and graft charges in connection with the flood control scandal, while another faces charges of plunder and indirect bribery involving campaign donations.
“The impeachment trial involves a Senate-created special tribunal tasked under the Constitution to try and decide impeachment cases. Under the Constitution, the Senate must convene as an Impeachment Court to conduct the impeachment trial,” Lacson said.
Remote Participation a Double-Edged Sword
Meanwhile, Lacson noted that allowing online participation and voting in Senate proceedings – and possibly the impeachment trial – may be a double-edged sword, as it would increase the chances of the senators concerned being tracked down and captured.
He said that in the case of dela Rosa, law enforcers can track him once he logs into the Senate session.
“If dela Rosa wants to participate and uses his mobile device or laptop, he inadvertently helps law enforcement in tracking him down,” he said. “If the law enforcers see his IP address, they have a good chance of getting him.”
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Lacson: Senator-Judges Na Nahaharap sa Pag-Aresto, Pwede Pang Makilahok sa Impeachment Trial na Hindi Mag-Online
Maaaring makilahok pa rin sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte ang mga senator-judges na nahaharap sa pag-aresto at pagkakakulong, nang hindi kinakailangang dumalo o bumoto online, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Biyernes.
Diin ni Lacson, mananatili itong alinsunod sa Rules of the Senate, kung saan ang online o remote participation at pagboto ay pinapayagan lamang sa mga kaso ng force majeure o matitinding pangyayari, at national emergency.
“Ang remedy doon, hihingi ng permission (para sa leave of court) ang Impeachment Court at pagkatapos kung papayagan ng korte o ng Sandiganbayan (uutusan ang BJMP o custodian nila) para escort-an papunta sa Senado ang aming mga kasamahan para may quorum, may mangyari, whether to convict or to acquit, at least nandiyan ang senator-judges, physically present,” aniya sa panayam sa DZBB radio.
“Hindi naman pwedeng work-from-jail,” dagdag ng mambabatas. “Hindi pwedeng online kasi ang online nga, force majeure and national emergency.”
Sa kasalukuyan, nahaharap si Sen. Ronald dela Rosa sa arrest warrant na inisyu ng International Criminal Court kaugnay ng anti-drug war ng administrasyong Duterte. Siya ay kasalukuyang nagtatago.
May ilan namang senador na posibleng maharap sa kasong plunder at graft kaugnay ng flood control scandal, habang ang isa pa ay nahaharap sa kasong plunder at indirect bribery dahil sa umano’y campaign donations.
“The impeachment trial involves a Senate-created special tribunal tasked under the Constitution to try and decide impeachment cases. Sa Constitution, kailangang i-convene at magkaroon ng impeachment trial, ang Senate mag-convene as an Impeachment Court,” ani Lacson.
Remote Participation, May Kaakibat na Panganib
Samantala, binigyang-diin ni Lacson na ang pagbibigay-daan sa online participation at pagboto sa mga sesyon ng Senado — at posibleng sa impeachment trial — ay maaaring magpataas ng tsansang matunton at maaresto ang mga kinauukulang senador.
Aniya, sa kaso ni Dela Rosa, maaaring matunton siya ng mga awtoridad kapag siya ay sumali sa sesyon ng Senado online.
“Kung gusto nila mag-participate si Bato, ang mapapaboran niyan law enforcement kasi mata-track siya. Kung magamit niya ang cell phone, iPhone o laptop o iPad, baka doon siya mahuli,” aniya. “Pag nakita IP address malamang sa hindi masukol siya.”
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