Lacson: Senators may need more time to decide on impeachment threshold

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-judges may need more time before finally deciding on whether the voting threshold for conviction in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should be reduced, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson made the pronouncements amid the conclusion of the 26th day of Duterte’s trial on Wednesday where four retired Supreme Court justices weighed in on the constitutional questions surrounding the voting threshold.

READ: Here’s what amici curiae say about the impeach voting threshold

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“I’d like to think we would be given more time to sleep over it, so we can dissect everything discussed during the oral arguments. It may not be enough to vote immediately after the oral arguments. But that is the schedule we agreed upon at least for now,” Lacson said in an interview over DZMM, as quoted by his office in a statement.

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“I’d rather wait for the oral arguments on Wednesday because the prosecution and defense will share their ideas and arguments. It is better to listen to them to broaden the basis of our decision,” he added.

The oral arguments of the prosecution and defense on whether the conviction threshold should be modified is set on Sept. 23.

When asked if senator-judges may appeal to the presiding officer to defer their voting to the week after, Lacson responded that they may.

“If some of us may still need more time, a motion may be made to defer the voting to the following week,” he said.

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Meanwhile, Lacson described the insights shared by the former chief justices on Wednesday as “enlightening.”

The senator-judge said he himself sought inputs from other legal luminaries, including another former chief justices who gave insights on a possible “automatic acquittal” if 16 votes cannot be obtained for conviction.

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Lacson also stated that it was still not too late for Sen. Ronald dela Rosa to participate in the impeachment trial, so long as he comes out and takes his oath.

“It is not too late for dela Rosa to come out and take his oath but he has to take the risk when he comes out to participate,” said Lacson.

 It may not be like last May’s leadership change when he got into the Senate and managed to leave. It’s up to him but we welcome his participation. Once he takes his oath, he becomes within the coercive jurisdiction of the Senate,” he added.

On the part of Sens. Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada—both of whom are facing plunder charges and are currently detained—Lacson reiterated that the Senate and impeachment court should not interfere in their bids to take part in the impeachment trial.

“If we will be asked to comment, it would be better not to because we may be misinterpreted as putting undue pressure on the Sandiganbayan. It would be better for the Senate and impeachment court not to interfere,” he said.

He then expressed the need for senators to discuss the issues about the impeachment trial informally in a caucus next week, but clarified that their discussions will not be binding.

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Duterte is facing the impeachment trial amid allegations of misusing confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and grave threats. /mr