Some manifestations that are “obviously irrelevant” are beginning to test the patience of observers at the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.
Lacson made the observation after sharing a lighthearted exchange with a fellow senator-judge, saying even those in the gallery would likely welcome a motion to adjourn the trial whenever such manifestations drag on.
“DAY 6: A fellow senator-judge has jokingly asked me if he can move for the division of the house every time he feels annoyed by manifestations obviously irrelevant to the impeachment trial. I told him, a motion to adjourn will elicit more applause from the equally annoyed gallery,” he said in a post on X.
In Filipino: Lacson: Mga Tagamasid ng Impeachment Trial, Namumuro na sa mga ‘Obviously Irrelevant’ na Manifestation
DAY 6: A fellow senator-judge has jokingly asked me if he can move for the division of the house every time he feels annoyed by manifestations obviously irrelevant to the impeachment trial. I told him, a motion to adjourn will elicit more applause from the equally annoyed…
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) July 16, 2026
The sixth day of the impeachment trial last Wednesday featured no witness testimonies but had some lengthy manifestations, some of which centered on the timing of a National Bureau of Investigation probe into the multibillion-peso sports complex in Tarlac for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Last weekend, Lacson proposed measures to minimize delays in the impeachment trial, including having witnesses expected to testify during the week remain readily available within the Senate premises.
He stressed that speeding up the trial does not mean compromising the presentation of evidence, but maximizing the limited time available to the Impeachment Court.
Besides, he said, the Vice President is entitled to a speedy trial just like any respondent in an ordinary court proceeding.
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Lacson: Mga Tagamasid ng Impeachment Trial, Namumuro na sa mga ‘Obviously Irrelevant’ na Manifestation
Namumuro na ang mga tagamasid ng impeachment trial ni Pangalawang Pangulong Sara Duterte sa mga “obviously irrelevant” na manifestation, ayon kay Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Huwebes.
Ibinahagi ni Lacson ang isang palitan ng biro sa kapwa senator-judge kung saan binanggit niya na malamang ikatuwa ng nasa gallery ang mosyon na ipagpaliban ang paglilitis tuwing nagkaroon ng ganitong mga manifestation.
“DAY 6: A fellow senator-judge has jokingly asked me if he can move for the division of the house every time he feels annoyed by manifestations obviously irrelevant to the impeachment trial. I told him, a motion to adjourn will elicit more applause from the equally annoyed gallery,” aniya sa isang post sa X.
Sa ikaanim na araw ng impeachment trial noong nakaraang Miyerkules, walang tumestigong saksi ngunit nagkaroon ng mahahabang manifestation, kabilang ang mga tumalakay sa tiyempo ng imbestigasyon ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) sa multibilyong pisong sports complex sa Tarlac para sa 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Noong nakaraang weekend, nagmungkahi si Lacson ng mga hakbang upang mabawasan ang mga pagkaantala sa impeachment trial, kabilang ang pagpapanatiling nakahanda sa loob ng Senado ang mga saksing inaasahang tumestigo sa loob ng linggo.
Binigyang-diin niya na ang pagpapabilis ng paglilitis ay hindi nangangahulugang isinasakripisyo ang presentasyon ng mga ebidensya, kundi ang mas mahusay na paggamit sa limitadong panahong nakalaan para sa Impeachment Court.
Dagdag pa niya, may karapatan ang Pangalawang Pangulo sa isang mabilis na paglilitis, tulad ng sinumang respondent sa isang karaniwang pagdinig sa hukuman.
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