Lacson Suggests Measures to Minimize Delays in VP Impeachment Trial

Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday proposed measures to minimize delays in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, including having witnesses expected to testify during the week remain readily available at the Senate premises.

Lacson said this would maximize the limited hearing time while upholding the Vice President’s right to a speedy trial without compromising the integrity of the proceedings.

“One suggestion I made was that the defense and prosecution make sure their witnesses for one week are readily available in a holding room, so if we finish early with one witness, we can move to the next and not waste time,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.

“Speeding up the trial does not mean compromising the presentation of evidence. It means maximizing the limited time available to us,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Nagmungkahi ng mga Hakbang upang Mabawasan ang mga Pagkaantala sa Impeachment Trial ng VP

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Lacson: Juvenile Justice Law Needs Revisiting After Tacloban School Shooting

The Philippine Juvenile Justice Law may need to be revisited in light of recent violent incidents involving minors, including the fatal shooting at a school in Tacloban City last Monday, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.

Lacson said the law’s provisions on criminal liability deserve renewed public discussion where age should not automatically exempt offenders from accountability, as he cited the gruesome murder case of a two-year-old boy in England in 1993.

“Our Juvenile Justice Law may really need revisiting and further discussion. The February 12, 1993 Liverpool, England case of 2-year-old James Patrick Bulger who was abducted and murdered by two 10-year-old boys may convince us to reconsider age as an automatic exemption from criminal liability. Discernment to be proven beyond reasonable doubt by state prosecutors as per the latest SC ruling should be safeguard enough to serve justice to all concerned,” he said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Kailangang Muling Suriin ang Juvenile Justice Law Matapos ang Pamamaril sa Paaralan sa Tacloban

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Lacson: Cayetano, Allies Should Have Filed SC Petition Earlier

Disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies should have filed much earlier their petition to the Supreme Court to restore themselves to power, so the high court would have enough time to study and rule on it, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.

Lacson said filing the petition on the eve of the special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. smacked of yet another desperate dirty trick by Cayetano to exercise “authority” as Senate President.

“Disgraced ex-SP Cayetano should have done that earlier to give the Court sufficient time to study and rule on the issue now being raised before the Court. Instead, he chose to file it at the last minute or a day before the special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which intended to tackle pending priority measures and the CA to tackle the confirmation of AFP officers and DFA officials, including a formal election of Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian,” he said.

“Is he trying to dig deeper in his bag of dirty tricks to create a scene tomorrow by invoking that pending action by the Supreme Court on his petition, he may still exercise his authority as Senate President?” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson: Dapat Mas Maagang Inihain ni Cayetano at Kaalyado ang Petisyon sa Korte Suprema

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Lacson: Cayetano Lacks Avelino’s Decency, Respect for Rule of Law to Let Supreme Court Resolve Senate Leadership Issue

Disgraced ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano does not have the decency or respect for the rule of law like former Senate President Jose Avelino to resolve his dispute with the new Senate leadership through the Supreme Court, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson said that while Avelino filed a petition with the Supreme Court to settle a leadership row with Mariano Cuenco, Cayetano resorted to playing dirty.

“Thank you Philstar for plainly explaining all the similarities in the two Senate controversies; the only difference being – Avelino brought his case to the Supreme Court. Cayetano does not have Avelino’s decency and respect for the same rule of law,” he said in a post on X.

In Filipino: Lacson: Cayetano, Hindi Disente at Walang Paggalang sa Rule of Law Tulad ni Avelino Para Hayaan ang SC na Lutasin ang Senate Leadership Issue

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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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