Tag: Senate President Tito Sotto

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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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Lacson: Senate Financially ‘Able and Ready’ for Possible VP Duterte Impeachment Trial

The Senate is financially “able and ready” for the possible impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, Senate President Pro Tempore and Senate Accounts Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson said only P500,000 had been spent out of a P27-million allocation under the 2025 General Appropriations Act when the House transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate at the time.

“There’s at least P27 million under the 2025 GAA, from which around P500,000 was spent when last year’s Articles of Impeachment against VP Duterte was transmitted to the Senate,” he said.

“Since the fund is good for two years under ‘continuing appropriations,’ the Senate is financially able and ready to conduct the trial if and when the Articles of Impeachment are transmitted,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Senado, ‘Able and Ready’ Para sa Posibleng Impeachment Trial kay VP Duterte

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Lacson Reminds Peers of Conduct as Possible Senator-Judges in VP Duterte Impeachment Trial

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday reminded fellow senators to observe proper conduct as potential senator-judges, should the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte be transmitted to the Senate.

Lacson stressed the need for senators to be perceived as impartial – taking care that their words and actions must not give the impression that they are aligned with the prosecution or the defense.

“We must understand that we should not be perceived as part of the prosecution or defense panel. We must listen to the prosecution teams and the cross-examinations of the prosecution witnesses by the defense team and vice versa – all while taking down notes to help us reach an informed decision,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“We speak only if we have clarificatory questions to ask. We cannot sound like members of the prosecution or defense panel, that would not be good,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Pinapaalalahanan ang Kapwa Senador sa Tamang Asal bilang Posibleng Senator-Judges sa VP Impeachment Trial

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Lacson: No Threat to Sotto-Led Senate Leadership Amid Possible Impeachment Trial

There is no threat to the Senate leadership under Senate President Vicente Sotto III amid the prospect of an impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson also said he and Sotto have started taking “crash courses” or briefings on legal matters – such as the Rules of Court and Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure – to prepare for the possible transmission of the impeachment case to the Senate.

“Impeachment trial or no impeachment trial, there’s always the possibility of an attempt at leadership change. That will not go away. Such plots are usually hatched during session breaks,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“At least to my knowledge, the majority bloc is solid because Senate President Sotto is leading well,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Walang Banta sa Liderato ni Sotto sa Gitna ng Posibleng Impeachment Trial

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Lacson Swats Away Panelo’s Prejudgment of Impeachment Trial Votes

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson swatted away as “nonsensical” the prejudgment by ex-presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo on how he and other senators would vote should the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte reach the Senate.

Lacson particularly took issue with Panelo’s claim that he, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan would vote to convict the Vice President.

“Why is Panelo trying to sound smarter than us? No one can speak on my behalf. And I have said this before – we’ll always be guided by the evidence. We haven’t reached the trial stage, why is he preempting us and calling us ‘pusakal/feral’?” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on Storycon on One News. “Is he a soothsayer? What if I say he’s a pusakal/feral soothsayer?”

“He isn’t just a feral dog. He’s an idiot,” Lacson said of Panelo.

In Filipino: Lacson, Tinaboy si Panelo sa ‘Prejudgment’ Nito sa Boto sa Impeachment Trial

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