Senator-elect Ping Lacson Speaks on Dismissal of Impeachment Case
PING LACSON – The senator-elect expressed his belief that a senator-judge cannot make a motion to dismiss an impeachment case.
The Senate impeachment court has ruled to return the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero who acts as the presiding officer of the impeachment court previously clarified that the remand does not equate to the dismissal or termination of the impeachment case.
The senator judges question the constitutionality of the impeachment of Vice Pres. Duterte. The Senate impeachment court also sought a reconfirmation from the 20th Congress through the remand of Duterte’s impeachment.
Eighteen (18) senator judges voted in support of the motion to return Duterte’s impeachment to the House. Five (5) senator judges opposed the motion.
YES
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
NO
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Grace Poe
- Nancy Binay
Recently, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero claimed that the impeachment court can dismiss the case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte by simple majority votes. The Senate impeachment court’s presiding officer also confirmed that the impeachment court can dismiss an impeachment case even without a trial.
“That’s possible, but I don’t wanna go ahead on what the impeachment court’s decision would be,” Escudero said.
The Senate President also previously claimed that there are no limitations to what the impeachment can decide on regarding an impeachment case. Recently, senator-elect Ping Lacson expressed his view on the possibility of a senator-judge making a motion to dismiss an impeachment case.
Based on a report on PhilStar, senator-elect Panfilo Lacson claimed that a senator-judge cannot make a move to dismiss a case as he/she is a judge. According to him, it should come from the defense.
“Sa akin, ang senator-judge hindi naman puwedeng mag-move to dismiss kasi judge eh. Saan ka naman nakakita ng huwes siya pa mismo magmo-move to dismiss eh kami rin ‘yung made-decide? So, ‘yung motion to dismiss mangagaling dapat ‘yun sa defense,” the Senator-elect said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
Senator-elect Ping Lacson further said that he is clear that a senator-judge cannot submit a motion to dismiss an impeachment case. Based on the report, he stressed that it will not only be improper but also a laughingstock in case.
“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,” he said.
Lacson stressed that the least that a senator-judge can do is to acquit or convict the accused based on the evidence presented. Several other senators-elect also gave their two cents on the case.
Incoming senator Erwin Tulfo previously expressed his hope that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial will proceed in the 20th Congress. Senator-elect Kiko Pangilinan stressed that the impeachment court’s duty is “try and decide”.