Tag: Supreme Court

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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: 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: SolGen May Ask SC Review of Fugitive Disentitlement Doctrine in Zaldy Co, Atong Ang Cases

Government lawyers may seek a review of the Supreme Court’s “fugitive disentitlement doctrine” to help them further limit the legal options of fugitives like Ex-Rep. Elizaldy Co and trader Charlie “Atong” Ang, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

This was after Co’s camp claimed the doctrine – embodied in the Supreme Court’s Nov. 25, 2025 ruling (GR 259337), clarifying the rules on fugitive status and barring them from judicial relief unless conditions are satisfied – does not apply to him.

“Paging SolGen (Solicitor General): It may be wise to ask the Court to revisit the ‘fugitive disentitlement doctrine’ in GR 259337 dtd Nov. 25, 2025 that refined Miranda vs Tuliao in relation to the cases of Zaldy Co and Atong Ang,” Lacson said on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Maaaring Hilingin ng SolGen sa SC ang Pagrepaso sa Fugitive Disentitlement Doctrine sa Kaso nina Zaldy Co, Atong Ang

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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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Lacson ‘Hoping Against Hope’ that Fellow Senators to Respect SC’s Final Ruling on VP Impeachment

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson is “hoping against hope” that his colleagues in the Senate will respect the Supreme Court’s final ruling addressing the House of Representatives’ motion for reconsideration on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a radio interview Saturday, Lacson noted that the majority of his colleagues who voted to archive the impeachment complaint had cited the need to respect and obey the high court’s ruling.

“Let’s put it this way. I’m hoping against hope they will respect the final ruling of the Supreme Court addressing the motion for reconsideration. Because if the high court reverses its ruling and they stick to their vote, I will remind them that in their vote to archive the complaint, they invoked respect for the high court,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio, when asked about what would happen if the Supreme Court reversed its ruling.

In Filipino: Lacson, ‘Hoping Against Hope’ na Rerespetuhin ng Kapwa Senador ang Final Ruling ng SC sa VP Impeachment

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