Lacson to fellow senator-judges: ‘Be impartial’
Leave the filing of motions and pleadings related to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to the prosecution and defense teams, a senator-judge advised on Sunday.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson made the “gentle caution” to his colleagues in a post on X as he maintained that their job is to make a ruling based on the arguments made by the prosecution and defense.
“[O]ur job is to listen to their arguments and counter-arguments and make a ruling,” he said.
Lacson’s remarks followed a statement by Senate impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol that fierce debates are expected if Sen. Ronald dela Rosa pushes through with his motion to ask the 20th Congress whether it should not take up the impeachment case.
Impartiality
Tongol said the debate may be one of the “threshold issues” on the floor and what the “boundaries” of a senator-judge are.
Lacson pointed out that the defense panel, and not a senator-judge, should be the one to move to dismiss the impeachment case against the Vice President.
He also maintained that senator-judges should behave and speak like judges.
“Be impartial, speak only to clarify statements from the prosecution and defense, and not express personal opinions on the case … the public will observe their demeanor during the trial,” Lacson said.
Duterte’s impeachment trial is set to begin after President Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address on July 28 and once the Senate impeachment court formally receives the certifications it earlier required the House prosecutors to submit.
The House has filed a certification that it did not violate any constitutional rule on the one-year ban on impeachment complaints.
The second certification, however, on whether the House is willing to take on the case, can only be submitted on July 28 when the 20th Congress formally opens.
