Tag: ICC

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Lacson: Senate May Need to Revisit Rules to Address Bato’s Situation

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – The Senate may need to revisit its rules to address the continued absence of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said the Senate may have a chance to take a closer and more serious look at the situation involving dela Rosa in its all-senators’ caucus on Monday.

“(May rules) kami pag continuous absence sa committee, nawawala ang membership sa committee. As far as plenary, wala kaming rules. I think we should revisit the rules of the Senate para ma-incorporate ang situation like that of Sen Bato (We have rules about continuous absences in Senate committees, where a senator can lose a committee membership due to such absences. But we don’t have such rules that apply to the plenary. I think we should revisit the rules of the Senate to incorporate the situation of Sen. dela Rosa),” he said at an interview here after the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alumni Association’s homecoming.

In Filipino: Lacson: Kailangang Ma-Revisit ang Rules ng Senado para Tugunan ang Sitwasyon ni Sen. Bato

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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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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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