By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Senator Panfilo Lacson said the Sandiganbayan’s decision denying detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s request to attend the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte may remove the need for the Senate impeachment court to intervene, warning that such a move could be interpreted as interference in an ongoing judicial proceeding.
Lacson made the statement after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division rejected Estrada’s motion to personally participate in the impeachment proceedings, ruling that his request lacked sufficient legal basis.
According to Lacson, the ruling effectively relieves the impeachment court from acting on the proposal of Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano, who earlier suggested that the Senate formally ask the anti-graft court to allow detained senators, including Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, to take part in the trial.
He said making such a request could create the impression that the Senate is attempting to influence an active judicial process.
Lacson, however, clarified that he was expressing only his personal opinion and emphasized that the issue remains subject to deliberation among the senator-judges.
During the opening day of the impeachment trial on Monday, Cayetano proposed that the Senate communicate with the Sandiganbayan to permit Estrada and Marcoleta—both currently detained while facing plunder and graft cases—to fulfill their roles as senator-judges in the proceedings.
Cayetano raised the proposal after Presiding Officer Senator Francis Escudero reminded the chamber that a two-thirds vote, or at least 16 senator-judges, is required to convict an impeachable official.
Meanwhile, Senate impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol said no action has yet been taken on Cayetano’s proposal.
Tongol explained that the matter falls under the authority of the Senate as a legislative institution rather than the impeachment court itself.
He added that the senator-judges are currently focused on preparing for the trial by reviewing the Constitution, impeachment rules, applicable laws, rules of evidence, and the factual records that will govern the proceedings.
ia/xf
