Impeachment court should tell parties to avoid comments on VP Sara case merits—Lacson

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Friday urged the Senate impeachment court to advise the House prosecution panel and the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte to refrain from commenting on the merits of the case to protect the integrity of the proceedings and prevent a “trial by public opinion”.

“Even before the impeachment trial begins on July 6, a separate trial before the bar of public opinion is already ongoing,” Lacson said on X (formerly Twitter).

“The impeachment court should advise both the prosecution and defense panels to refrain from openly commenting on the merits of the case at bar,” he said.

According to the senator, his concern was limited to the merits of the case and not to the discussion on the procedure.

“Merits of the case lang ang concern ko; nothing to do with the process and other similar points of information that the public may appreciate,” Lacson added.

The pre-trial conference, in which pieces of documentary evidence were pre-marked for Duterte’s impeachment case, formally started on June 18. It concluded on June 25 after five sessions days.

Following its conclusion, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said the Impeachment Court will issue the pre-trial order detailing a roadmap on Duterte’s impeachment case by Monday, June 29.

Impeachment trial schedule

The Senate impeachment court is set to start Duterte’s trial for her impeachment case on July 6.

Bantug said the impeachment trial will be held every Monday to Wednesday at 2 p.m. before the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on July 27.

It will be adjusted to Tuesdays to Thursdays at 2 p.m. after the SONA.

Duterte is facing impeachment charges over allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes. —LDF, GMA News