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: 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 Rejects Claims of ‘Martial Law’ in Senate Security Inspection

What “Martial Law?”

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson thus rejected on Tuesday the objections and claims of “undeclared martial law” by some minority senators to the security survey and inspection (SSI) of the Senate premises by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection, assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Lacson stressed that the inspection stemmed from intelligence reports indicating a security threat to the Senate, adding that no one was exempted, not even the offices of the majority bloc members.

“Martial law? All the offices of individual senators, even including that of Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, as well as those occupied by the secretariat and all other offices, were subjected to safety and security inspections to make sure that we and the Senate employees as well as the media people covering the Senate will be safe and secure from a repeat of the May 13 shooting incident and mayhem that transpired under the watch of disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano,” he said.

“Except for those of us who may be apprehensive that they may have kept or stored contraband items like firearms, explosives and drugs in their offices, those with clean consciences should all welcome instead of criticize the SSI that was conducted by the PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection, assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Itinanggi ang Bintang na ‘Martial Law’ sa Security Inspection sa Senado

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Lacson: Those Behind ‘Destabilization’ Using 18 Maleta Boys Cannot Undermine Professionalism in AFP, PNP

Whoever may be behind a possible destabilization attempt involving the 18 “Maleta Boys” cannot undermine the professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.

Lacson said the uniformed services have effectively disowned and distanced themselves from the 18 ex-soldiers who claimed to have delivered cash in suitcases to certain personalities linked to the flood control scandal.

“I don’t think the AFP and uniformed services have any sympathy for the 18 Maleta Boys. They’ve been disowned by the Philippine Marines and by the AFP. So if those behind them assume that their antics would trigger something bigger and cause destabilization, I think they are wrong,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“Those behind the destabilization attempts should know better than to use the 18 ex-Marines as a rallying point for our Armed Forces. They should know the members of the AFP and PNP better than how they assume they will act. Whoever is behind the destabilization moves should know them better than that,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Mga Nasa Likod ng ‘Destabilization’ Gamit ang 18 ‘Maleta Boys,’ Hindi Kayang Pahinain ang Propesyonalismo ng AFP at PNP

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Lacson: Citing Foreign Conflicts as ‘Force Majeure’ to Justify Remote Voting an ‘Unforced Error’

Including foreign conflicts under “force majeure” to justify remote participation and voting in Senate proceedings would be an “unforced error,” Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson referred to a social media post by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, who asked if war in the Middle East and the conflict between China and Taiwan were not force majeure.

“Hindi po ito ‘force majeure’. Iyan po ay ‘UNFORCED ERROR’ (This is not force majeure. This is an unforced error),” Lacson said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Pagsama ng Digmaan sa Ibayong Dagat bilang ‘Force Majeure’ para Ma-Justify ang Remote Voting, ‘Unforced Error’

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