Lacson: Stand on Respecting Local Courts to Uphold Our Legal Processes, Not Shield Senators

What I am protecting is our country’s legal processes as enshrined in the Constitution, and not Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa or Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go who now face charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed this on Monday as he addressed criticisms about his stand that local Philippine courts must be respected in whatever course of action the ICC may take.

“To those who criticize my opinion on the need for a corresponding domestic court order before the ICC warrants of arrest against our fellow senators and others may be implemented, let me be clear: what I am protecting is our country’s legal processes as enshrined in Article III Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution, not Senators Ronald de la Rosa and Bong Go,” Lacson said on X.

“Despite contrasting legal opinions on the matter, at the proper time, it is only the Supreme Court that will interpret the constitutional provision and legal procedure in this regard,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Paninindigan sa Paggalang sa Local Courts, Para Itaguyod ang Ating Legal na Proseso, Hindi Para Protektahan ang mga Senador

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Lacson: Senators Facing Charges Before ICC Should Have Chance to Avail of Legal Remedies

Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go should have all chances to avail of legal remedies amid the charges they now face before the International Criminal Court, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson also said the local Philippine courts must be respected in whatever course of action the ICC may take regarding the two senators, who it named as co-perpetrators in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

“I think they should have the chance to avail of all legal options, because our local courts and processes must be respected. If there is an arrest warrant from the ICC or a foreign court, it should go through our local court, which will issue a corresponding order to implement the foreign entity’s arrest warrant,” Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ, when asked if the two should have the chance to avail of all legal remedies.

In Filipino: Lacson: Dapat Mabigyan ng Pagkakataon si Sen. Bato at Go na Gamitin ang Legal Remedies sa Pagharap sa Kaso sa ICC

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Lacson: Only Senate Ethics Committee Can Initiate Sanctions on Sen. dela Rosa

Only the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges can initiate appropriate sanctions on Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa – including possible expulsion – for his prolonged absence, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson also said that without any complaint lodged before the Senate ethics committee – and without the committee’s recommendations to be presented to the plenary for adoption – the Senate leadership has no basis to sanction dela Rosa.

“As far as sanctioning senators or congressmen, only the Ethics Committee can make recommendations. And in the absence of any complaint filed before the Ethics Committee which was constituted only recently, the Senate President or Senate leadership has no basis to sanction him. That includes the possible withholding of salary for the time he does not report for work,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Senate Ethics Committee Lang ang Maaaring Magpasimula ng Parusa vs Sen. dela Rosa

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Lacson Won’t Be Part of Recommendation to Sanction Sen. dela Rosa

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson will not be part of any possible recommendation to sanction Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa over his absence from the Senate, if it comes to that.

Lacson said Tuesday that he has no moral authority on the matter because he faced a similar situation where he was forced to go into hiding in the 2010s.

“I will not be part of any recommendation to sanction him if it comes to that in relation to his long absence for one simple reason – I have no moral authority as I was in almost the same situation more than 15 years ago,” he said.

In Filipino: Lacson, Hindi Kasali sa Posibleng Rekomendasyon para Parusahan si Sen. dela Rosa

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Ping Lacson: Best Way Forward on VP Impeachment Trial is Crossover to 20th Congress

For incoming Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson, the best way forward on the issue of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is to let it cross over to the 20th Congress, with the Senate acting as an impeachment court.

Lacson rejected the claim of a draft resolution traced to the office of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa that the Senate can declare a de facto dismissal of the impeachment case against the Vice President, saying only the Senate as an impeachment court can render a decision on the matter.

“There is no sense in the draft resolution calling for the de facto dismissal of the impeachment case against Vice President Duterte. Only the Senate as an impeachment court can render a decision on the matter, not the Senate as a legislative body, as the latter has no jurisdiction or legal authority to do so,” he stressed.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson: Pag-Crossover sa 20th Congress, Pinakamainam na Opsyon para sa VP Impeachment Trial

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