Category: TV

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Lacson: With Cayetano No Longer Senate President, Time for Senate to Go Back to Work

Now that Alan Peter Cayetano is no longer Senate President and the chamber’s top post is temporarily vacant following Wednesday’s leadership change, it is time for the Senate to get back to work, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said.

Lacson said a quorum of 12 out of 22 senators was declared as Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada were outside the Senate’s “coercive power,” allowing the chamber to elect Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President.

“Sen. Cayetano is no longer SP. With 12 senators present, a quorum was declared out of the base number of 22 since Sens. de la Rosa and Estrada are outside the “coercive power” of the Senate (Avelino v Cuenco. GR No 2821),” he said on X.

“Hence, we voted to declare all positions vacant, although we could not yet elect a new Senate President because we lacked the 13 votes required under the Constitution,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Ngayong Hindi na Senate President si Cayetano, Panahon Nang Magbalik-Trabaho ang Senado

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Lacson: Citing Foreign Conflicts as ‘Force Majeure’ to Justify Remote Voting an ‘Unforced Error’

Including foreign conflicts under “force majeure” to justify remote participation and voting in Senate proceedings would be an “unforced error,” Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson referred to a social media post by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, who asked if war in the Middle East and the conflict between China and Taiwan were not force majeure.

“Hindi po ito ‘force majeure’. Iyan po ay ‘UNFORCED ERROR’ (This is not force majeure. This is an unforced error),” Lacson said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Pagsama ng Digmaan sa Ibayong Dagat bilang ‘Force Majeure’ para Ma-Justify ang Remote Voting, ‘Unforced Error’

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Lacson Swats Away Panelo’s Prejudgment of Impeachment Trial Votes

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson swatted away as “nonsensical” the prejudgment by ex-presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo on how he and other senators would vote should the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte reach the Senate.

Lacson particularly took issue with Panelo’s claim that he, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan would vote to convict the Vice President.

“Why is Panelo trying to sound smarter than us? No one can speak on my behalf. And I have said this before – we’ll always be guided by the evidence. We haven’t reached the trial stage, why is he preempting us and calling us ‘pusakal/feral’?” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on Storycon on One News. “Is he a soothsayer? What if I say he’s a pusakal/feral soothsayer?”

“He isn’t just a feral dog. He’s an idiot,” Lacson said of Panelo.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tinaboy si Panelo sa ‘Prejudgment’ Nito sa Boto sa Impeachment Trial

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Lacson: Zaldy Co’s Potential BRC Appearance Could Boost Support for Partial Report

The possible appearance of arrested ex-Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee could prompt more senators to sign the panel’s partial report, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said late Friday.

Lacson said the decision now rests with the committee members, especially those who have been calling for the hearings to resume and for Co to be questioned.

“Co’s arrest is a good development because now it’s up to them to ensure that the hearings resume. It’s on them – do they want the hearings to continue and for Co to be grilled? The burden is now on them to sign the partial report,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on Storycon on One News.

In Filipino: Lacson: Posibleng Pagharap ni Zaldy Co sa BRC, Maaaring Magpalakas ng Suporta sa Partial Report

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Lacson: Constitution First in Government Response to ICC Charges

Upholding the Constitution must take precedence over all considerations —including loyalty to colleagues — in the government’s response to the International Criminal Court (ICC) charges against Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson maintained that the Senate’s moral ascendancy remains intact, so long as it adheres to the Charter – particularly the provisions on immunity from arrest under Art. VI, Sec. 11.

“If we violate the law of the land, we have nothing to discuss. We are complying with the provision of the Constitution, which is the fundamental law of the land. It is clear that there is immunity from arrest if the penalty is six years and below, and Congress is in session,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on One News.

In Filipino: Lacson: Konstitusyon ang Unahin sa Tugon ng Pamahalaan sa mga Kaso ng ICC

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