Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson stated that the Supreme Court (SC) might need to step in if at least nine of the 24 senator-judges are suspended, leaving them unable to participate in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Lacson raised the concern following apprehensions that the Senate Impeachment Court could be reduced to a mechanical proceeding that inevitably favors an acquittal if a large number of senator-judges are restricted from voting.
His statement was prompted by the Sandiganbayan’s recent directive ordering the preventive suspension of Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
While acknowledging that the high court typically avoids encroaching on the independent operations of the Impeachment Court, Lacson noted that judicial intervention becomes plausible under allegations of grave abuse of discretion.
”Yan na nga ang posibleng absurdity na mangyari, assuming na at least nine senator-judges ang ma-suspend. The trial will be a mere formality for acquittal. I’d rather leave it to the wisdom of the Court to come up with a practical necessity to intervene,” he said in a social media post.
“Ano ang saysay na impeachment trial kung 15 lang yung senator judges na present at pwedeng bumoto? Ano saysay? Sabi ko, formality na ang acquittal, bakit pa tayo mag-trial? So diyan dapat mag-intervene ng Korte Suprema,” he added.
”Mas mainam nang sila na maginterpret yan. Dahil kung kami, maraming question, kasi pulitika yan. Samantalang ang Korte Suprema, they’re beyond politics,” he said.
Aside from selecting a Presiding Officer, Lacson suggested that the Senate Impeachment Court look into appointing an Impeachment Manager to help streamline the upcoming trial.
He described the proposed Impeachment Manager as a floor coordinator or “quarterback” tasked with supporting the Presiding Officer during the trial, drawing a parallel to the responsibilities held by the Senate Majority Leader during ordinary legislative sessions.
”Titingnan namin kung puwede makapagtalaga rin kami ng isang Impeachment Manager. Yan ang pwede para mag-quarterback kung overwhelmed ang Presiding Officer, pero may nag-assist sa floor. Parang siya ang conductor sa floor, ika nga, parang majority leader,” he said in a radio interview.
According to Lacson, the Senate majority bloc is eyeing Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to serve as the Presiding Officer, while Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is being considered for the role of Impeachment Manager. He pointed out that both legislators are lawyers by profession.
Nevertheless, he made it clear that the election for the Presiding Officer will officially take place only when the Senate formally sits as an Impeachment Court on July 6.
”The Presiding Officer is just one vote, he can be overruled by (the other senator judges) on the floor,” Lacson added.