Tag: Corona impeachment trial

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Lacson Sees June Start for Possible VP Impeachment Trial

The Senate may convene as an impeachment court immediately after receiving the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, but the trial proper may not begin until June, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said that while Senate President Vicente Sotto III wants to convene the impeachment court at once, at least three weeks may be needed for procedures such as the issuance of summons and reply, and a preliminary conference for purposes of stipulations and possible marking of evidence before the trial starts.

“Once the Articles of Impeachment are transmitted to us, if we follow the processes, we’re talking of at least three weeks before the actual trial starts,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

In Filipino: Lacson: Maaaring sa Hunyo pa Magsimula ang Posibleng VP Impeachment Trial

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Ping Lacson Raises Concern on Possible ‘Overreach’ in Remanding of Impeachment Case vs VP Duterte

The word “remand” is not included in the 1987 Constitution’s articles involving the accountability of public officers.

On this note, Senator-elect Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday raised his concern on a possible overreach in the interpretation of Article XI, Sec. 3 of the Charter when the Senate impeachment court remanded the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.

“All lawyers should know this legal maxim: ‘Expressio unius est exclusio alterius‘. (What the law does not include, it excludes) The word ‘remand’ is not included in Art XI Section 3 of the1987 Constitution,” Lacson said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson, Nagpahayag ng Pag-aalala sa Posibleng ‘Overreach’ sa Pag-Remand ng Impeachment Case vs VP Duterte

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JPE, the Centenarian [published in The Philippine Star]

Senators Ping Lacson and Juan Ponce Enrile in 2004

Former Sen. Ping Lacson on JPE the centenarian, as published in The Philippine Star: “Considering his advanced age, JPE has the distinction of retaining not only his legal acumen and skills but also his brilliance and mental acuity that lawyers half his age would not dare challenge in any forum.”

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On the possible culpability of former President Aquino over DAP

In 2012, I recall being the first one to question the issuance of DBM Circular 541 during the budget deliberations on general principles of the 2013 GAA. I argued then that savings cannot be declared in the middle of the year. That early, I already sensed something ominous with that move of the DBM.

As it turned out, the unused appropriations in the first semester of the 2013 national budget were pooled to constitute what was later known as funds for the DAP. Worse, these proclaimed savings were realigned to fund additional pork barrel allocations of several senators and congressmen, further aggravated by the ill-timed conviction of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona by the Senate acting as an impeachment court, and in direct contravention of Art. VI, Sec. 25, Paragraph 5 of the 1987 Constitution, which clearly proscribes cross-border realignment.

While I feel for the former president, the question on his possible culpability on the actions taken by his DBM secretary will largely depend on the documents and paper trail made available to the Ombudsman prosecutors to prove or disprove his direct or indirect participation.

What is clear, though, is that former President Aquino did not pocket any DAP money, hence the case filed is for usurpation of legislative powers and not violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

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Vote and Explanation Re Chief Justice Corona’s Impeachment Trial

When a witness takes the stand, he is first to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. That makes half-truths no better than lies.  Continue reading “Vote and Explanation Re Chief Justice Corona’s Impeachment Trial”