Ping Lacson on Sara Duterte Impeachment Case: ‘The Prosecution haven’t even presented any evidence, so what’s the basis of dismissal?’

Senator-elect Ping Lacson Believes Senator-Judge Must Not Move for Duterte’s Impeachment Case Dismissal

PING LACSON – The senator-elect raised a question over the possibility of a senator-judge making a move to dismiss the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.

The Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was returned to the House of Representatives. Eighteen (18) senators supported the motion to remand Duterte’s impeachment over constitutionality issues.

The Senate impeachment court also wants a reconfirmation from the 20th Congress. Only five (5) senator judges opposed the motion to remand Duterte’s impeachment to the House.

Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero clarified that the return of Duterte’s impeachment to the House does not mean that the case is dismissed or terminated. He stressed that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will be sent summons to prove it.

The Senate impeachment court sent summons to the Vice President. In her response, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said the impeachment case against her “must be dismissed” as it is allegedly unconstitutional.

The Vice President also claimed that the impeachment document against her is “nothing more than a scrap of paper”. Countless people were surprised by her request for dismissal but the Vice President claimed that she was just following her lawyers.

Recently, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero claimed that the impeachment court can junk the case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte even without a trial. According to Escudero who acts as the presiding officer, the impeachment court can ruled to dismiss the case through a simple majority vote.

However, senator-elect Ping Lacson has a different belief over the matter. He also stressed that the prosecution has not even presented the evidence against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte yet.

Based on a report on PhilStar, senator-elect Ping Lacson asked what is the basis if Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment case will be dismissed even without a trial. He stressed that the role of the Senate in an impeachment trial is to “try and decide” as mandated in the Constitution.

“My initial thinking is that we should follow the Constitution, plain and simple. At the very least, the prosecution should be able to present evidence. They haven’t even presented any evidence, so what’s the basis of dismissal?” he said.

Speaking at an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, senator-elect Ping Lacson also expressed his belief that a senator-judge should not make a motion to dismiss a case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. He stressed that senator judges are “judges” in an impeachment trial.

“Sa akin, ang senator-judge hindi naman puwedeng mag-move to dismiss kasi judge eh… ‘Yung motion to dismiss mangagaling dapat ‘yun sa defense,” he said.

Senator-elect Ping Lacson further claimed that it will be a laughingstock if a senator judge will make a move to dismiss the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on the report, he stressed that it is improper.

“Ako maliwanag ako dun, hindi pwede mag move o mag submit ng motion to dismiss ang isang senator-judge kasi huwes kami. Hindi lang sa mali kung hindi improper, inappropriate, at katawa-tawa,” the incoming Senator claimed.

Amid the belief of the Duterte camp that he is allegedly behind the impeachment against the Vice President, Pres. Bongbong Marcos maintained that he has no role in Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment process. Malacañang also reiterated that the Chief Executive will not intervene in the process.