Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson reminded his colleagues to observe proper conduct as potential senator-judges, should the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte be transmitted to the Senate.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (OS Lacson)

In a DZBB radio interview, Lacson stressed the need for senators to be perceived as impartial by making sure that their words and action do not give the impression they are aligned with the prosecution or the defense.

"We must understand that we should not be perceived as part of the prosecution or defense panel. We must listen to the prosecution teams and the cross-examinations of the prosecution witnesses by the defense team and vice versa - all while taking down notes to help us reach an informed decision," Lacson said in a mix of English and Filipino in the radio interview.

"We speak only if we have clarificatory questions to ask. We cannot sound like members of the prosecution or defense panel, that would not be good," he added.

In the next few days, Lacson said senators are expected to discuss the possible impeachment trial, including the schedule he had proposed to balance their legislative and impeachment trial proceedings.

At this point, the senator said he sympathizes with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who faces a heavy load in presiding over the potential impeachment trial.

"SP Sotto has a heavy load on his shoulders. I can only sympathize with him because he potentially must rule whether to sustain or overrule objections to questions by either prosecution or defense," he said.

But for his part, Lacson maintained that the evidence will remain his sole guide in making his decision in the potential impeachment trial and said he is already taking lessons on the conduct of trials in court.

"I will be fair, that's why I don't comment on the merits of the issue. I will follow whatever evidence will come out, along with the rules of the impeachment proceedings. I will not look at any other factors," he said.

Earlier, Lacson traded barbs with former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, who named the senator as one of the members of the Upper Chamber who could vote for Duterte’s conviction.

Aside from Lacson, Panelo indicated that Sotto, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan have the potential to vote to convict the vice president.

Lacson called out former president Rodrigo Duterte’s counsel for preempting their decisions and calling them “feral.”

“We are capable of discernment so he should not prejudge us. It is complete nonsense to say four senators are sure to convict the Vice President,” he had said.