Tag: impeachment

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Lacson: Rule of Law Must be Respected in SC Ruling on VP Duterte’s Impeachment Case

The Supreme Court’s ruling on the unconstitutionality of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case must be accepted and respected, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson said this is a matter of respecting the rule of law, as he pointed out that his sentiment would have been the same even if the high court ruled otherwise.

“Agree or disagree, right or wrong, just or unjust, faultless or defective – we must accept and respect the SC ruling on the unconstitutionality of VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment case. They are not called the ‘gods of Padre Faura’ for nothing,” he said on his X account.

“This is not about politics or who gains or loses. If the SC ruling went the other way, my sentiment would be the same. Simply put, it is about respecting the rule of law,” he added.

In FIlipino: Lacson: Rule of Law Dapat Igalang sa SC Ruling sa Impeachment Case ni VP Duterte

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On the Senate Impeachment Court’s Remanding of the Impeachment Complaint to the House of Representatives

I agree with the opinion of the Philippine Constitution Association that constitutional concerns were raised when the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, returned the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte back to the House of Representatives.

As I have already commented earlier, the Senate, even after constituting itself into an Impeachment Court, may still be subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court if its action constitutes grave abuse of discretion as in the case of Ernesto Francisco vs the House of Representatives in 2003.

It is also worth reiterating that Article XI of our Constitution is very clear: Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people.

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Ping Lacson: VP Impeachment Trial Likely to Cross Over to 20th Congress

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate would likely “cross over” to the 20th Congress, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Citing practical reasons, Lacson said the 19th Congress will not have enough time to convene and conduct the trial before adjourning sine die in the last week of June.

Also, Lacson noted the Senate assumes a different personality in an impeachment trial, where senator-judges’ work will be more judicial than legislative in nature.

“My humble opinion as a layman is that as an impeachment court, the Senate will act not as a legislative body but as a separate constitutional body,” he said in English at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

“In an impeachment trial, the Senate will not perform legislative acts but will tackle an impeachment trial,” he added.

Related: Ping Lacson: VP Impeachment Trial, Malamang na Mag-Crossover sa 20th Congress

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Ping Lacson Pushes Bigger R&D Budget to Boost Digitalization Efforts

For the government’s digitalization efforts to succeed and benefit the people, it needs to provide more funds for research and development (R&D) in the national budget, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson said government agencies must use homegrown R&D to develop solutions, and go beyond “googling” for equipment and technologies imported from abroad.

“When we scrutinize the national budget, I noticed that R&D accounts for only 0.4 percent. How can we become self-reliant when we are so dependent on imports?” he said in Filipino in an interview on “Bakit Ikaw? The DZRH Job Interview.”

“Isn’t it better to have homegrown solutions? We must bolster our research,” he added.

Related: Ping Lacson, Itinulak ang Mas Malaking R&D Budget Para sa Digitalization

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Interview on DZBB/GMA News TV: WPS Issue a Matter of Nationalism | June 30, 2019

In an interview on DZBB/GMA News TV, Sen. Lacson answered questions on:
– Nationalism amid West Philippine Sea row
– On possibly bigger graft case at PhilHealth
– Corruption at the Bureau of Customs

Quotes from the interview…
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