When the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona resumes next week, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson will push for ways to hasten the proceedings without sacrificing due process, as he noted many unnecessary legal objections are weighing down the trial.
Lacson said that during the first week of the impeachment trial, the Senate as an impeachment court was consistently bogged down by so many objections on the floor that accomplish "nothing except a delay in the trial."
"I intend to manifest next week before my co-jurors this observation, with the sole purpose of expediting the trial while preserving due process. There must be a balance between the two concerns and we must find that balance," Lacson said.
The Senate acting as an impeachment court resumes its hearings on Jan. 24.
Lacson said that while the trial in the Senate is not even a criminal proceeding but an impeachment trial, “we're consistently bogged down by so many objections on the floor that accomplish nothing except a delay in the trial.”
“While I'm not necessarily a stranger to court proceedings having quite a long experience appearing as a witness in the many criminal cases that I filed when I was still in the law enforcement service, I am now beginning to understand why it is impossible for justice to be rendered swiftly and fairly,” he said.
In many cases, he said a poor litigant will quit after exhausting whatever little savings he has when confronted in court by so many legal technicalities that delay his quest for justice.
"Now I understand why poor litigants seek justice elsewhere outside the courtroom, either by putting the law in their own hands to settle the score against a rich and powerful respondent, or turn to the New People's Army's kangaroo court," he said.
o0o
Friday, January 20, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Lacson Scores 'Undisciplined' Public Presentation of 'Evidence' on Pending Impeachment Trial
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Wednesday scored what he called an "undisciplined" public presentation of evidence in the upcoming impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Lacson said he cannot sit idly by as a senator-judge while the rules on impeachment trials, which prohibit the parties concerned from making comments and disclosures on the merits of a case, are blatantly violated.
"If we allow such undisciplined public presentation of evidence by any party in utter disregard of the ethics of their legal profession to continue, the Senate may lose control of the situation and I am certain it will damage not just the Senate as an impeachment court but the sacredness of the whole impeachment process as well," he said.
He noted the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials unambiguously prohibit senator-judges, as well as prosecutors, the person impeached, their counsels and witnesses "from making any comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial."
The Senate, convening as an impeachment court, will start on Jan. 16 the impeachment trial of Corona, who the House of Representatives impeached last December.
But Lacson said some parties that continue to make public comments or so-called "disclosures" on the case threaten to make a mockery of the proceedings.
"We should not allow such mockery to go unchecked. Either we throw our impeachment rules out of the window or straight to their faces," he said.
o0o
Lacson said he cannot sit idly by as a senator-judge while the rules on impeachment trials, which prohibit the parties concerned from making comments and disclosures on the merits of a case, are blatantly violated.
"If we allow such undisciplined public presentation of evidence by any party in utter disregard of the ethics of their legal profession to continue, the Senate may lose control of the situation and I am certain it will damage not just the Senate as an impeachment court but the sacredness of the whole impeachment process as well," he said.
He noted the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials unambiguously prohibit senator-judges, as well as prosecutors, the person impeached, their counsels and witnesses "from making any comments and disclosures in public pertaining to the merits of a pending impeachment trial."
The Senate, convening as an impeachment court, will start on Jan. 16 the impeachment trial of Corona, who the House of Representatives impeached last December.
But Lacson said some parties that continue to make public comments or so-called "disclosures" on the case threaten to make a mockery of the proceedings.
"We should not allow such mockery to go unchecked. Either we throw our impeachment rules out of the window or straight to their faces," he said.
o0o
Friday, December 16, 2011
Oust-JPE Move Pure Hogwash
Pure hogwash. This was how Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Saturday described alleged moves to oust Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile from the Senate presidency.
Lacson said it would be absurd for President Benigno Aquino III to pressure his former colleagues to convict impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
"The oust-JPE move is pure hogwash. I can categorically state that there is absolutely no move from anyone, much less from Malacañang, to oust Senate President Enrile. It is absurd to even imagine President Aquino putting pressure on the senators in order to secure a conviction," he said.
Besides, he said Aquino, who came from the ranks of the Senate, knows the mentality of the senators.
Lacson noted even former President Gloria Arroyo, "with all her diabolical posturing during the height of her power," failed to contain the majority of senators under Enrile's leadership.
He said the only possible power grab at this point is likely to come from the administration party, but he has yet to hear from its members.
"I as an ally am a natural magnet for recruitment. But I have yet to hear an overture from them," he said.
On the other hand, he said the claims that senators can be arm-twisted into convicting Corona is unfair because majority of senators "are not for sale."
"It is unfair to every senator to even speculate on the matter of recruitment in relation to the impeachment. A great majority of us in the Upper Chamber are not for sale. That I can say with authority," he said.
o0o
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Lacson Pushes for NBI, BI Budget Increase
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson on Wednesday moved to augment the budget of the Bureau of Immigration and the National Bureau of Investigation in an effort to boost its law enforcement assets and capabilities.
Interpellating on the proposed budget of the Department of Justice, Lacson suggested sourcing the additional budget for the two agencies from the cancelled allocation for the construction of a new hall of justice for the city of Manila worth P400 million and the P33 million slash from the budget of the Office of the Secretary of Justice.
The budget cuts were made during the committee hearings on the General Appropriations Bill for 2012.
“In the President’s budget message, it was mentioned that the facilities and equipment of the NBI crime laboratories and forensic investigation will be modernized and upgraded,” Lacson, a former law enforcer himself, said in justifying his proposal.
Lacson noted that the BI and NBI budget – P461 million and P842 million, respectively - were measly compared to the budget allocations of the Philippine National Police and the AFP.
He said although the work force of the PNP and AFP are much bigger, funds for the BI and NBI should at least be at par and the additional allocation be commensurate to the number of their personnel and its official functions.
Senator Franklin Drilon, finance committee chairman and sponsor of the budget legislation, said the door is still open for specific amendments granting more funds to the BI and the NBI.
On the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Lacson inquired on the legal basis used by the National Police Commission to arrogate upon themselves the function of managing funds generated from trust receipts issued by the PNP.
He said it was very unusual for the NAPOLCOM to dip its hands on the trust receipts income of the PNP.
o0o
Interpellating on the proposed budget of the Department of Justice, Lacson suggested sourcing the additional budget for the two agencies from the cancelled allocation for the construction of a new hall of justice for the city of Manila worth P400 million and the P33 million slash from the budget of the Office of the Secretary of Justice.
The budget cuts were made during the committee hearings on the General Appropriations Bill for 2012.
“In the President’s budget message, it was mentioned that the facilities and equipment of the NBI crime laboratories and forensic investigation will be modernized and upgraded,” Lacson, a former law enforcer himself, said in justifying his proposal.
Lacson noted that the BI and NBI budget – P461 million and P842 million, respectively - were measly compared to the budget allocations of the Philippine National Police and the AFP.
He said although the work force of the PNP and AFP are much bigger, funds for the BI and NBI should at least be at par and the additional allocation be commensurate to the number of their personnel and its official functions.
Senator Franklin Drilon, finance committee chairman and sponsor of the budget legislation, said the door is still open for specific amendments granting more funds to the BI and the NBI.
On the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Lacson inquired on the legal basis used by the National Police Commission to arrogate upon themselves the function of managing funds generated from trust receipts issued by the PNP.
He said it was very unusual for the NAPOLCOM to dip its hands on the trust receipts income of the PNP.
o0o
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Controversial Arroyo Aide in Entourage Makes Medical Trip Abroad Fishy
A controversial aide, the lack of extradition treaties in her real preferred countries, and the silence on which doctor she will meet with are making former President Gloria Arroyo's plan to seek medical help abroad smell fishy, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Thursday.
Citing information from his spy in the Justice Department, Lacson questioned the inclusion of Remedios Poblador, Arroyo's erstwhile secretary for "special concerns," as one of her entourage abroad.
"Isn't it suspicious that instead of strictly family members, it seems that she's bringing with her the whole 'secretariat?'" he said.
He said that while he has no objection to Arroyo seeking the best medical help possible, these three factors cast doubt on her real motives for wanting to leave the country.
Poblador gained controversy during the Arroyo administration when she allegedly offered money to "Hello Garci" witness Vidal Doble Jr. in exchange for his refusal to testify before a congressional inquiry into the "Garci" scandal.
She also dispatched a government helicopter to bring then Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas to "rescue" Doble from the San Carlos Seminary in Makati City at the height of the "Garci" scandal in 2005.
Doble had also testified before the Senate that Poblador was one of the personalities he saw at the quarters of then Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Efren Abu, where his wife and two children were "detained."
Lacson also questioned why the countries Arroyo intends to travel to have no extradition treaty, saying her real intended countries include Austria, Germany and Spain.
Aside from this, he said Arroyo has been mum on the identity of the doctors she plans to consult during her trip abroad.
"She could not give details of the doctors she will consult with. What makes this more fishy is that of the 14 people in her entourage, most of them are aides," he said.
o0o
Citing information from his spy in the Justice Department, Lacson questioned the inclusion of Remedios Poblador, Arroyo's erstwhile secretary for "special concerns," as one of her entourage abroad.
"Isn't it suspicious that instead of strictly family members, it seems that she's bringing with her the whole 'secretariat?'" he said.
He said that while he has no objection to Arroyo seeking the best medical help possible, these three factors cast doubt on her real motives for wanting to leave the country.
Poblador gained controversy during the Arroyo administration when she allegedly offered money to "Hello Garci" witness Vidal Doble Jr. in exchange for his refusal to testify before a congressional inquiry into the "Garci" scandal.
She also dispatched a government helicopter to bring then Balanga Bishop Socrates Villegas to "rescue" Doble from the San Carlos Seminary in Makati City at the height of the "Garci" scandal in 2005.
Doble had also testified before the Senate that Poblador was one of the personalities he saw at the quarters of then Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Efren Abu, where his wife and two children were "detained."
Lacson also questioned why the countries Arroyo intends to travel to have no extradition treaty, saying her real intended countries include Austria, Germany and Spain.
Aside from this, he said Arroyo has been mum on the identity of the doctors she plans to consult during her trip abroad.
"She could not give details of the doctors she will consult with. What makes this more fishy is that of the 14 people in her entourage, most of them are aides," he said.
o0o
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Lacson Suggests 'Solomonic' Solution on Arroyo Foreign Trip
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Sunday suggested to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima a “Solomonic” solution in addressing former President Gloria Arroyo’s request to seek medical treatment abroad.
Lacson said that while Mrs. Arroyo should be allowed to seek the best medical treatment for her spine and neck problems, she should also do her part to make sure the proceedings in the charges against her are not delayed by her absence.
“My unsolicited advice to Sec. de Lima is to do a King Solomon: Allow ex-President Arroyo to leave for treatment abroad but only after she has submitted her counter-affidavit on the electoral sabotage and plunder case that she is being accused of, so as not to derail the preliminary investigations being conducted by the DOJ prosecutors,” he said.
“This way, her absence cannot delay the filing of information in court and the subsequent issuance of warrants of arrest against her by the court in case probable cause is established,” he added.
Presently, the DOJ is still studying a request by Mrs. Arroyo to seek medical treatment abroad. Mrs. Arroyo faces possible charges, including electoral fraud in the 2007 elections.
Earlier reports indicated Mrs. Arroyo had appealed that she be allowed to seek medical treatment abroad on the promise that she would return.
Mrs. Arroyo had obtained permission from the House of Reprsentatives to travel to Singapore, Spain, Germany, Italy and the United States from October 22 to December.
She plans to seek treatment for “hypoparathyroidism,” a condition caused by lack of calcium production in the body, which has aggravated her neck and spine problems.
But on Friday, de Lima said Mrs. Arroyo will have to spend All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days in the Philippines as the Justice Department is not likely to decide on her request until this coming week.
o0o
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Vicious Cycle Calls for All-Out War vs MILF
Citing the vicious cycle of “rogues” committing abuses and hiding in Moro Islamic Liberation Front “territories,” Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Sunday maintained his stance of scrapping a deceit-laced peace process with the secessionist group.
Lacson lamented an “annoying common experience” that had cost the lives of many soldiers who could not distinguish between “real” and “rogue” MILF fighters in the past several years.
“It has become a vicious cycle: the ‘rogues’ conduct atrocities, kidnap civilians, or attack and ambush our troops then seek refuge within the confines of the MILF encampments or ‘territories,’“ he said.
“Even when I was still the Philippine National Police chief, I was being told the same story by my own police forces in Mindanao. This is the main reason why our soldiers are losing many battles against the MILF,” he added.
He said that in the case of the recent clashes in Mindanao, one can only imagine the frustration of the Army’s Special Forces in not being able to rescue and save the lives of their six captured men only because they were not supposed to encroach into an off-limits zone.
Even law enforcement agents can conduct hot pursuit rescue operations without a court-issued search warrant, he noted.
Soldiers should at least be allowed to do the same to save the lives of their own people, he said.
“Everybody wanting peace in Mindanao is a no-brainer. Pray tell me, how can we have real and lasting peace when we allow an organized group to bear arms and worse, unofficially allow their belligerence status?” he said.
Lacson also advised the government’s peace negotiators to “wake up” to the reality that renewed peace negotiations have become an arena for posturing by the MILF, because it is a basic negotiation technique to always deal from a position of strength.
“Our peace negotiators should now wake up to that reality. Review history and you will easily see the pattern and timing of escalation of the MILF ‘rogues’ atrocities,” he said.
***
Lacson lamented an “annoying common experience” that had cost the lives of many soldiers who could not distinguish between “real” and “rogue” MILF fighters in the past several years.
“It has become a vicious cycle: the ‘rogues’ conduct atrocities, kidnap civilians, or attack and ambush our troops then seek refuge within the confines of the MILF encampments or ‘territories,’“ he said.
“Even when I was still the Philippine National Police chief, I was being told the same story by my own police forces in Mindanao. This is the main reason why our soldiers are losing many battles against the MILF,” he added.
He said that in the case of the recent clashes in Mindanao, one can only imagine the frustration of the Army’s Special Forces in not being able to rescue and save the lives of their six captured men only because they were not supposed to encroach into an off-limits zone.
Even law enforcement agents can conduct hot pursuit rescue operations without a court-issued search warrant, he noted.
Soldiers should at least be allowed to do the same to save the lives of their own people, he said.
“Everybody wanting peace in Mindanao is a no-brainer. Pray tell me, how can we have real and lasting peace when we allow an organized group to bear arms and worse, unofficially allow their belligerence status?” he said.
Lacson also advised the government’s peace negotiators to “wake up” to the reality that renewed peace negotiations have become an arena for posturing by the MILF, because it is a basic negotiation technique to always deal from a position of strength.
“Our peace negotiators should now wake up to that reality. Review history and you will easily see the pattern and timing of escalation of the MILF ‘rogues’ atrocities,” he said.
***
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