Tag: senator judge

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Lacson Commends Fellow Senator-Judges for Keeping Cool Amid Colleague’s ‘Lectures’

As the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its third day Wednesday, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson commended his fellow senator-judges for keeping their cool amid the lengthy “lectures” from one of their colleagues.

Lacson underscored the importance of exercising restraint and maintaining composure amid such repeated pontificating from the senator-judge since the impeachment trial started last Monday.

“Day 3: I commend my fellow senator-judges for keeping our cool and not engage a colleague who has been lecturing us since Day 1 of the impeachment trial, as if being not members of the bar, we will be less judicious in rendering fair judgment,” Lacson said on X.

In Filipino: Lacson, Pinuri ang Kapwa Senator-Judges sa Pagiging Mahinahon sa Kabila ng Pagle-Lecture ng Kasamahan

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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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Ping Lacson to Fellow Senator-Judges: Behave and Speak Like Judges

Senator-judges in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte must behave and speak like judges, as the public will observe their demeanor during the trial, incoming Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.

Lacson said this means being impartial, only speaking to clarify statements from the defense or prosecution, and not expressing their personal opinions on the case.

“Our demeanor will be observed by the public. We must always bear in mind that we are senator-judges, not members of the defense or prosecution team,” Lacson said in Filipino, in an interview on DZBB radio.

In Filipino: Ping Lacson sa Kapwa Senator-Judges: Kumilos at Magsalita na Parang Huwes

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On a Rumored Meeting with VP Duterte

I have been receiving reports that I and another senator-elect in the May 2025 elections recently met with Vice President Sara Duterte.

I vehemently deny and dismiss such rumor as absolutely false and outright malicious for one simple reason only: as an elected senator who is a potential senator-judge in the impeachment trial involving the Vice President should the said trial cross over to the 20th Congress, it is the height of impropriety to meet with her, being a respondent in the said impeachment case already transmitted to the Senate.

Under normal circumstances, I find nothing wrong if newly elected senators or congressmen paid a courtesy call on the second highest official of the land, which I actually did with then VP Robredo when I won my third term in 2016.

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