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 Welcomes Lifestyle Check on 26 ‘Cong-tractors’

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Friday welcomed the Office of the Ombudsman’s order for a lifestyle check on 26 “cong-tractors,” or House members allegedly involved as contractors in government projects.

Lacson said it was “well and good” that the Ombudsman had started gathering evidence on the supposed “cong-tractors,” noting the issue clearly involves conflict of interest.

“It is a good development. If the Ombudsman has names and proof, it should investigate them because that is a clear conflict of interest. Imagine, you insert projects in the budget for projects where you are the contractor,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Lifestyle Check sa 26 ‘Cong-tractors,’ Welcome kay Lacson

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Lacson Proposes Practical Schedule to Balance Senate Work and Impeachment Trial

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Friday proposed a practical schedule to help the Senate balance its legislative work and the impeachment trial, should the House transmit to it the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Under Lacson’s proposal, impeachment proceedings would be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting at 3 p.m., while sessions would be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“Ang suggestion ko, gawin natin ang impeachment trial MWF, 3 p.m. up. Tapos ang TTH, gawin nating meron tayong session. Para lahat ng umaga libre tayo sa committee hearings para hindi ma-imperil ang legislative work sa Senate (I suggested to the Senate President that we hold the impeachment trial on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 3 p.m. onwards. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we can hold sessions. The mornings can be used for committee hearings so the Senate’s legislative work will not be imperiled),” he said in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson Nagmungkahi ng Praktikal na Iskedyul para Mabalanse ang Gawain ng Senado at Impeachment Trial

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Lacson Plans to Invite Co, Ex-Soldiers to Next Blue Ribbon Hearing

Once its partial committee report on the flood control scandal is formally filed, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee may invite to its next hearing captured former Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co – along with Orly Guteza and the former soldiers who claimed to have delivered P805 billion in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood projects to various personalities on Co’s orders.

Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon panel Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday that the testimonies of Guteza and the ex-soldiers are “interconnected” with Co.

“Once Co is in the Philippines and the court allows it, I plan to have him attend the hearing along with Guteza and the ex-soldiers so we will find out who is truthful, who is telling half-truths, and who is lying,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson Plano Imbitahan si Co, Mga Ex-Sundalo sa Susunod na Blue Ribbon Hearing

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