Tag: DZMM

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Lacson: Not Impeachment Court Spokesperson’s Role to ‘Admonish’ Senator-Judges on Indiscretions

It is not the role of the spokesperson of the Impeachment Court trying the case of Vice President Sara Duterte to publicly call out or admonish senator-judges over alleged indiscretions, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said it would be better for lawyer Reginald Tongol to leave concerns such as possible sub judice remarks to the senator-judges themselves, who can discuss and address such matters internally during their caucus.

“With due respect to Atty. Tongol, he is the spokesperson of the Impeachment Court and speaks on behalf of the Senator Judges. He should not make it appear he is cautioning or admonishing us,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

“If there are indiscretions committed by a senator-judge, it is best to take it up in an all senator-judges caucus, instead of lecturing in public or during the trial,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Tungkulin ng Impeachment Court Spokesperson na ‘Sawayin’ ang mga Senator-Judge

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Lacson Scores Recurring Pattern of Hospitalization by Personalities Facing Arrest

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson scored on Saturday what he noted as a recurring pattern of hospitalization involving prominent personalities who are cited in contempt of the Senate, or are facing arrest for criminal cases.

Lacson said this was again the case when former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who both face plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan, were confined at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNP-GH).

“Since time immemorial, when a prominent personality is cited in contempt or faces arrest, he/she suddenly gets sick and needs to be hospitalized. Bonoan was arrested and was confined in the hospital. Before that, we have seen big personalities who are confined in the hospital instead of being brought to jail. This is the pattern I have noticed,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

“This is the pattern that many ordinary Filipinos have brought to my attention, hence my recent post on X last July 8,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Pinuna ang Pattern ng Pagkaospital ng mga Personalidad na Nahaharap sa Pag-aresto

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Lacson: Alex Eala a Much-Needed Detoxifier, Unifier of the Nation

On the eve of the start of the potentially divisive impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, the nation received a much-needed dose of inspiration and unity from tennis sensation Alex Eala, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.

Lacson thanked Eala for lifting the Filipino spirit after she made history as the first Filipino player to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament, highlighted by her dethroning of Iga Swiatek.

“She is the detoxifier that our country’s highly toxic atmosphere needs and an influential unifier of a deeply divided nation. Thank you Alex Eala for lifting the Filipino spirit. God bless you and the Philippines,” Lacson said on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Alex Eala, ‘Detoxifier’ at Tagapagbuklod na Kailangan ng Bansa

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Lacson: Impeachment Court Not Meant to Safekeep ‘BIR Green Box’

The Impeachment Court trying the case of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio is not meant to safekeep the so-called “BIR Green Box” containing the Vice President’s tax records, and may thus return it to the House prosecution team, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said the Impeachment Court cannot even decide on whether to open the box – much less unseal it – and may even risk being cited for grave abuse of discretion if it does so.

“One of the things we agreed upon in Friday’s senators’ caucus was to return the box because keeping it in our custody will violate the law. It is not the Impeachment Court or any court’s role to unseal it,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

“Sen. Francis Escudero is right in saying the Impeachment Court has no business safekeeping the evidence because it is a court – unless it is presented and admitted as evidence before the court by the prosecution or defense,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Tungkulin ng Impeachment Court na Mag-Safekeep ng ‘BIR Green Box’

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Lacson: Marcoleta Plunder Case Could Lead to a ‘Reverse Trial’

The plunder case lodged against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta could turn into a “reverse trial” with prosecutors merely sitting back while the respondent argues against the evidence that he himself placed on record, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson noted that Marcoleta effectively made an “admission against interest” on television by acknowledging that he received cash donations for his senatorial campaign while serving as a congressman, yet failed to disclose them in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

“REVERSE TRIAL: The prosecutor may just sit and watch with folded arms while the respondent argues against himself and the damning evidence that he himself presented in plain view of all the witnesses who watched his ‘admission against interest’ on national TV,” Lacson said on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Plunder Case ni Marcoleta, Maaaring Mauwi sa Isang ‘Reverse Trial’

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