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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lacson reminds senator-judges: Leave filing of motions, pleadings to defense, prosecution teams

Lacson reminds senator-judges: Leave filing of motions, pleadings to defense, prosecution teams

Published Jul 13, 2025 01:33 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Panfilo Lacson made the "gentle caution" to his fellow senator-judges, as he maintained that their job is to make a ruling based on the arguments by the prosecution and defense.
Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Office of Senator Lacson)
Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (Office of Senator Lacson)

Senator-judges should leave the filing of motions and pleadings related to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to the prosecution and defense teams, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson reiterated on Sunday, July 13.

Lacson made the “gentle caution” to his fellow senator-judges, as he maintained that their job is to make a ruling based on the arguments by the prosecution and defense.

"VP Impeachment Jurisdiction: A gentle caution to senator-judges of the impeachment court - we should leave the filing of all motions and pleadings to the prosecution and defense teams,” Lacson said in a post on X.

“Our job is to listen to their arguments and counter-arguments and make a ruling,” he further said.

Lacson made the call following Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s disclosure he plans to file a motion  to ask the Senate of the 20th Congress if it is willing not to take up the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Over the weekend, Senate impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol was quoted as saying they expect fierce debates if Dela Rosa pursues such motion.

According to Tongol, the debate may be one of the "threshold issues" on the floor, and may be about what the boundaries of a senator-judge are.

But Lacson had insisted that the defense panel—and not a senator-judge—should be the one to move to dismiss the impeachment case against the Vice President.

He also maintained that senator-judges should behave and speak like judges by being impartial, and speaking only to clarify statements from the prosecution and defense.

As senator-judges, the senator said they are not to express personal opinions on the case, since the public will observe their demeanor during the trial.

Related Tags

ping lacson Bato Dela Rosa Senate impeachment proceedings Philippines 2025 VP Sara Duterte
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