Lacson: Some Senator-Judges ‘Already Formed a Decision’ on Sara Duterte
MANILA — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson admitted that some of his fellow senator-judges seem to have already made up their minds on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, just as her defense team takes its turn to present evidence when the trial resumes Monday, November 9.
Speaking in a radio interview on Sunday, Lacson said he could not fault critics who accuse some members of the impeachment court of leaning toward the Vice President.
“I wouldn’t disagree, because it’s quite evident from their line of questioning and manifestations that some of them have already formed a decision,” Lacson said.
He stressed, however, that he himself remains undecided. Lacson said he has been carefully going over the defense’s written rebuttals to the prosecution’s evidence even before the defense formally opens its case, and that he will hear out its witnesses before casting his vote.
Senator Risa Hontiveros took a different view, calling claims that colleagues have already decided “premature.” She promised to give the defense the same attention she gave the prosecution, and said she is ready to listen to and question the witnesses it will present.
Hontiveros added that the defense has not signaled whether it will call the Vice President herself to the stand, though she said it would not hurt for Duterte to personally answer the allegations against her.
The neutrality of some senator-judges has been a sore point for the House prosecutors, who have accused certain senators of “lawyering” for Duterte. Malacañang also earlier reminded senators to avoid cross-examining witnesses, after Senator Imee Marcos argued that liability for the flagged P612.5 million in confidential funds should fall on the special disbursing officers rather than on Duterte.
A verdict is tentatively eyed for mid-December. Lacson believes the trial can wrap up before Congress goes on its holiday break without shortchanging due process. A conviction would remove Duterte from office and bar her from holding public office, putting her 2028 presidential bid in doubt.