Senator-Judge Robinhood Padilla should clarify whether his remark about a “disregard for law” in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio was directed at the entire impeachment court or at specific senator-judges, especially after he hinted he and his allies may skip the trial, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.
Lacson said Padilla’s remark could be seen as a direct assault on the integrity of the entire impeachment court if he was referring to the body of which he is also a member.
In Filipino: Lacson: Padilla, Dapat Magpaliwanag sa Pahayag na ‘Disregard for Law’
“I don’t know what Sen. Padilla meant by ‘disregard for law’ or if he was referring to the entire impeachment court na member din naman siya. If so, hindi kaya maituturing na direct assault sa integridad ng korte ang mga bibitiwan niyang pananalita (I don’t know what Sen. Padilla meant by ‘disregard for law’ or if he was referring to the entire impeachment court where he is a member. If so, won’t his remark be taken as a direct assault on the integrity of the impeachment court)?” he said.
Also, Lacson said that if Padilla’s “disregard for law” remark referred to individual senator-judges, it is only fair that he should name them.
“Marapat lamang na liwanagin niya kung buong impeachment court ba ang tinutukoy niya sa ‘disregard for law’ or ilang myembro lang. Kung ang huli, sana pangalanan niya (It is only fair that he clarify if his ‘disregard for law’ referred to the impeachment court or to individual senator-judges. If it is the latter, I hope he names them),” he added.
In a radio interview Sunday, Padilla said he and his allies may skip the impeachment trial if there is “disregard for the law.”
He cited what he described as many surprising developments, adding that if the supposed twisting of the law continues, “baka dumating na punto na hindi na kami umattend (there may come a point when we won’t attend).”
Earlier, Padilla and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify the Senate’s impeachment court’s ruling on the voting threshold.
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Lacson: Padilla, Dapat Magpaliwanag sa Pahayag na ‘Disregard for Law’
Dapat linawin ni Senator-Judge Robinhood Padilla kung sino ang tinutukoy niya nang sabihin niyang may “disregard for law” sa impeachment proceedings laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, lalo na matapos niyang magpahiwatig na maaari silang lumiban sa paglilitis ng kanyang mga kaalyado, ayon kay Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes.
Sinabi ni Lacson na maaaring ituring na direktang pag-atake sa integridad ng buong impeachment court ang pahayag ni Padilla kung ang naturang lupon, na miyembro rin siya, ang tinutukoy nito.
“I don’t know what Sen. Padilla meant by ‘disregard for law’ or if he was referring to the entire impeachment court na member din naman siya. If so, hindi kaya maituturing na direct assault sa integridad ng korte ang mga bibitiwan niyang pananalita?” aniya.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na kung ilang senador-huwes lamang ang tinutukoy ni Padilla sa kanyang pahayag na “disregard for law,” makatarungan lamang na pangalanan niya ang mga ito.
“Marapat lamang na liwanagin niya kung buong impeachment court ba ang tinutukoy niya sa ‘disregard for law’ or ilang myembro lang. Kung ang huli, sana pangalanan niya,” dagdag niya.
Sa isang panayam sa radyo nitong Linggo, sinabi ni Padilla na maaari silang lumiban sa impeachment trial kasama ang kanyang mga kaalyado kung may “disregard for the law.”
Binanggit niya ang umano’y maraming nakakagulat na pangyayari at sinabing kung magpapatuloy ang umano’y pagbaluktot sa batas, “baka dumating na punto na hindi na kami umattend.”
Nauna nang naghain sina Padilla, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, at ang Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) ng petisyon sa Korte Suprema upang ipawalang-bisa ang pasya ng Senate impeachment court hinggil sa voting threshold.
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