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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lacson denies meeting with VP Duterte

Lacson denies meeting with VP Duterte

Published May 20, 2025 02:27 pm

At A Glance

  • "It is the height of impropriety to meet with her, being a respondent in the said impeachment case already transmitted to the Senate," Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said.

Senator-elect Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday, May 20 denied allegations he had a meeting with Vice President Sara Duterte, saying these rumors are “false” and “outrightly malicious.”

Panfilo
Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)

“I have been receiving reports that I and another senator-elect in the May 2025 elections recently met with Vice President Sara Duterte,” Lacson said in a statement.

“I vehemently deny and dismiss such rumor as absolutely false and outright malicious for one simple reason only: As an elected senator who is a potential senator-judge in the impeachment trial involving the Vice President should the said trial cross over to the 20th Congress,” he said.

“It is the height of impropriety to meet with her, being a respondent in the said impeachment case already transmitted to the Senate,” added the lawmaker. 

Nevertheless, he said he finds nothing improper if newly elected lawmakers would pay a courtesy call to the second leader of the country.

“Under normal circumstances, I find nothing wrong if newly elected senators or congressmen paid a courtesy call on the second highest official of the land, which I actually did with then Vice President (Leni) Robredo when I won my third term in 2016,” Lacson said. 

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero earlier said he believes the 20th Congress will now decide on Duterte’s impeachment. 

Lacson will join the 11 other senatorial candidates who won the recent May 2025 elections, namely: Sen. Imee Marcos, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Erwin Tulfo, Camille Villar, Rodante Marcoleta, former senators Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV, Francis “Kiko” Pangilnan, Vicente Sotto III, and Manuel “Lito” Lapid.

Related Tags

ping lacson impeachment complaint impeachment trial VP Sara Duterte
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