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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SC must step in if at least 9 senator-judges get detained, suspended - Lacson

SC must step in if at least 9 senator-judges get detained, suspended - Lacson

Published Jun 18, 2026 03:47 pm
Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson believes that the Supreme Court (SC) may need to intervene if at least nine (9) of the 24 senator-judges were detained and suspended by the Sandiganbayan, as in the case of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who the anti-graft court preventively suspended last Tuesday.
He said this amid concerns over the possible "absurdity" of the Impeachment Court being reduced to a mere formality for acquittal in the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.
He pointed out that while the SC cannot intervene in the operation of the Impeachment Court, it can do so if the issue of grave abuse of authority is raised.
"Yan na nga ang posibleng absurdity na mangyari, assuming na at least nine senator-judges ang ma-suspend (That's the possible absurdity that may happen, assuming that at least nine senator-judges get suspended). 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 post on X.
"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 (For what will the impeachment trial be for if only 15 senator judges can vote, and 16 votes are needed to convict? The trial could be reduced to a formality for acquittal. So the Supreme Court may need to intervene)," he added in the DZBB interview.
"Mas mainam nang sila na maginterpret yan. Dahil kung kami, maraming question, kasi pulitika yan. Samantalang ang Korte Suprema, they're beyond politics (It is better that the Supreme Court interpret it. The Impeachment Court can have its own interpretation but many questions can be raised. But the high court is perceived to be beyond politics)," he said.
Meanwhile, aside from electing a Presiding Officer, Lacson said that the Impeachment Court may designate an Impeachment Manager to ensure the smooth flow of the proceedings.
Lacson said the Impeachment Manager would act as a "quarterback" who will assist the Presiding Officer, similar to the role of the Majority Leader in the Senate.
"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 (We are studying appointing an Impeachment Manager to quarterback the proceedings especially if the Presiding Officer is overwhelmed. The Impeachment Manager's role would be similar to that of the Majority Leader)," he said in an interview on DZBB radio.
He said that while the majority bloc is eyeing Sen. Francis Escudero as Presiding Officer, it is also considering Sen. Francis Pangilinan as Impeachment Manager. Both Escudero and Pangilinan are lawyers, he noted.
But he also pointed out that the election of the Presiding Officer would be on July 6, when the Impeachment Court convenes for the trial.
"The Presiding Officer is just one vote, he can be overruled by (the other senator judges) on the floor," Lacson added.

Related Tags

Ping Lacson impeachment court Vice President Sara Duterte Supreme Court
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