Lacson on virtual participation in Duterte trial: ‘Hindi lulusot’
Metro Manila, Philippines – Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said a virtual participation in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial is unlikely to prosper as this is only allowed during emergencies. In a statement on Friday, May 22, Lacson said both the rules in the Senate and Impeachment Court only allow remote participation during force majeure situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta made the motion to allow online participation which would benefit Sen. Ronald dela Rosa who is evading authorities. Lacson said this is doomed to fail. “Hindi lulusot. At saka maantala kami pag binago namin ang rules on impeachment,” he said. [Translation: Such a move won’t succeed. And it might delay us if we have to change the rules of the Impeachment Court] Lacaon said there is no decision on Marcoleta’s motion. He said any attempt at revising impeachment court procedures would require formal amendments and adherence…
Dela Rosa still in PH – NBI
Metro Manila, Philippines – National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag on Friday, May 22, said Sen. Bato dela Rosa, tagged by the government as a fugitive, is still in the country. In a briefing on Friday, May 22, Matibag said the bureau is firm on enforcing the warrant against the senator at large. “Pero hinahanap namin siya ngayon. That is the problem now because of yung nangyari na protective custody ng Senate,” he said. “Wala pa naman report ang Bureau of Immigration na lumabas siya so if we base it on that, nandito pa siya,” Matibag added. [Translation: But we are looking for him now. That’s the problem, because of what happened with the protective custody of the Senate…The Bureau of Immigration has not yet reported that he left. So if we base it on that, he is still here.] However, Matibag noted the country’s porous borders for entry…
Duterte impeach trial to start July 6
Metro Manila, Philippines – The formal impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will begin on July 6, two senators said. Minority lawmakers Vicente Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo shared the information, after the caucus among colleagues led by Senate President Alan Cayetano on Wednesday, May 20. Sotto said on July 6, the trial will be scheduled at 2 p.m. from Mondays to Wednesdays. He added Thursdays will be reserved for motion days. Should the trial extend after the president’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, Sotto said proceedings will be held at 3 p.m. from Tuesdays to Thursdays. In an interview with reporters, Tulfo said the Senate will hold sessions on Monday morning and on Thursdays. In a statement on Thursday, May 21, House trial spokesperson Zia Adiong said the prosecution team has yet to receive a formal notice on the schedule. “Nevertheless, the 11-member prosecution…
Minority dispute Pia Cayetano’s claims during outburst in Senate session
Metro Manila, Philippines – Minority members Sen. Ping Lacson and Sen. Erwin Tulfo are unfazed by Sen. Pia Cayetano’s emotional breakdown in a recent session, questioning their colleague’s claims on what transpired during the controversial shoot out on Senate grounds. Tulfo on Thursday denied Cayetano’s claim that minority bloc senators did not check on their colleagues during the shooting incident at the Senate last May 13. Tulfo said senators from both factions of the chamber sent messages of concern since all of them were in one group chat. “Meron po nagpadala po ng message. Nakita po doon si Senator Kiko, Senator Bam, Senator Sherwin, maging ako po, yung sa akin po, ipinadala ko po around 9:57. Tapos sumagot po yung si Senadora Camille, sabi niya, ‘Thank you, we’re all okay,’” he said. [Translation: We received a message. It showed Senator Kiko (Pangilinan), Senator Bam (Aquino), Senator Sherwin (Gatchalian), and even…
SolGen: No legal issue in enforcing ICC warrant vs. Dela Rosa
Metro Manila, Philippines – The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) affirmed that there are no legal blocks that prevent local authorities from serving the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. In a statement on Wednesday, May 20, the agency welcomed the Supreme Court’s denial of Dela Rosa’s plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and status quo ante order. “The court’s denial of the TRO affirms that there is no legal impediment to the enforcement of the ICC warrant,” it read. The OSG added that Dela Rosa failed to prove any “urgent and irreparable injury” that would justify the Court’s intervention. The government also took aim at the senator’s attempt to evade arrest and said that he has placed himself beyond the reach of law enforcement by going into hiding. In its resolution released, the high court rejected Dela Rosa’s…
