Lacson urges focus in VP Sara trial

Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson on Thursday expressed concern over what he described as “obviously irrelevant” manifestations during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying they are beginning to test the patience of both lawmakers and the public.

In a social media post, Lacson shared a lighthearted exchange with a fellow senator-judge following the sixth day of the trial on Wednesday. He said the senator jokingly asked if he could move for the division of the house whenever lengthy manifestations drifted away from the issues of the case.

Lacson replied that a motion to adjourn would probably draw louder applause from the gallery, which he said appeared equally frustrated by the lengthy discussions.

The sixth day of the impeachment trial featured no witness testimonies. Much of the proceedings was devoted to extended manifestations, including discussions on the timing of a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe into the multibillion-peso sports complex built for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Tarlac.

Recently, Lacson proposed several measures to speed up the impeachment proceedings. Among these was requiring witnesses scheduled to testify during the week to remain available within the Senate premises.

He clarified that expediting the trial should not come at the expense of due process. Instead, he said the impeachment court should make the best use of its limited time while ensuring a fair presentation of evidence.

Lacson also emphasized that Vice President Duterte, like any respondent in a regular court proceeding, has the right to a speedy trial. The prosecution is expected to present NBI Director Melvin Matibag as its next witness when the impeachment trial resumes this week.