Tag: Supreme Court

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Lacson Debunks Insinuations of ‘Playing Safe’ on VP Impeachment Case

“I did not ‘play safe.’ Rather, I am acting out of respect for the Supreme Court.”

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson thus debunked such insinuations from some groups after he abstained from voting on the motion to archive the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

On Wednesday evening, Lacson had pointed out that his abstention stemmed from the still-pending motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives through the Solicitor General, to appeal the high court’s decision ruling the impeachment complaint as unconstitutional.

“So I did not play safe. I followed the Supreme Court and I do not want to preempt it because it has not issued a final decision,” Lacson said in Filipino in an interview on One PH. “I abstained out of respect for the Supreme Court.”

In Filipino: Lacson, Pinabulaanan ang Alegasyong ‘Playing Safe’ sa VP Impeachment Case

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Lacson Takes Pride in Blocking Motion to Dismiss VP Impeachment Case

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday took pride in having played a decisive role in stopping the outright dismissal of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte — a move that would have dealt an irreversible blow to the proceedings.

Lacson made clear that while archiving the complaint renders the impeachment practically dead, it is better than dismissal which removes any means to resuscitate the impeachment should the Supreme Court reverse its decision.

“I take pride in being the one who played a major role in questioning the motion to dismiss. If the motion to dismiss had prevailed, the case would be moot and academic even if the Supreme Court reversed its decision,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

“I don’t want to take part in proceedings that would effectively kill the Articles of Impeachment. It’s like the Senate is preempting the Supreme Court. But I don’t want to defy the Supreme Court’s initial ruling that the complaint is unconstitutional either, so I abstained,” he added.

In Filipino: Lacson, Malaki ang Ambag sa Paghadlang sa Mosyon para I-Dismiss ang Impeachment Case ni VP Duterte

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Sen. Lacson’s Abstention and Manifestations on VP Duterte Impeachment

Without the words “immediately executory” and the phrase on 25 July 2025 which held among others that the Articles of Impeachment are null and void ab initio and that the Senate did not acquire jurisdiction over the same, I would have voted in favor of the amended motion because I have always maintained that we must respect and not disobey the Supreme Court.

But since there is still a pending motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives through the Solicitor General, I believe that the July 25 ruling is by no means final, until it rules on the motion for reconsideration with finality.

That being said, I would rather wait, not preempt, the final ruling of the High Court.

It is for these reasons that I abstain, Mr. President.

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On the House’s Motion for Reconsideration Regarding VP Duterte’s Impeachment Case

My position to respect and not disobey the Supreme Court ruling on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has not changed, and will not change for the same reason which I stated earlier.

That said, I read the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives through Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe, and I would say I am in agreement with my legal staff and other legal observers that it was very well-written and argued why the Court should take a second look at the case at bar.

As for the impending Senate debate on this issue, it is best to exercise prudence and wait for the Supreme Court to rule with finality.

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Ping Lacson: ‘Evidence’ in VP Duterte Trial Can Still Be Tackled in Other Fora

If the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will not push through this year following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the issue, there are other fora where the supposed “evidence” in the case can be tackled, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Sunday.

Lacson said one such forum to take up the use of confidential and intelligence funds would be the budget deliberation of agencies such as the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, where he will actively take part.

“There are many fora where the public will know what happened to the CIF. One is the budget deliberations of agencies like the OVP and DepEd. I will be actively asking questions,” he said in Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio. “We can ask questions on the issue during the budget deliberations.”

In FiIipino: Ping Lacson: ‘Ebidensya’ sa Trial ni VP Duterte, Pwede Pang Talakayin sa Ibang Forum

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