Panfilo Lacson at the Inquirer office. — Inquirer file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Incoming Sen. Ping Lacson said a draft resolution seeking to trash the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte is being circulated among senators.
Lacson disclosed this on Wednesday, stating that he had received a copy of the document himself.
“I actually have a copy of what seems to be a draft resolution. It’s undated and unsigned. The resolution is being circulated to have the case functionally dismissed, or dismissed even before the trial begins. And the reason [cited] is the outcome of the debate on June 2,” said Lacson in a mix of Filipino and English during an interview over DZMM Radyo Patrol 630.
READ: Escudero: No Senate reso filed to dismiss Sara Duterte impeachment trial
Asked how he knows that this is a legitimate document being circulated for senators and incoming senators, he said he received his copy from someone in the Senate.
“Someone from the Senate sent it to me and said that a proposed resolution is being circulated for senators to sign, so it can be debated on the floor in case it gains enough signatures. It’s a resolution, but it still needs to be tackled in plenary, debated, and must get a majority vote to be adopted,” said Lacson mostly in Filipino.
But according to the senator-elect, the document will face many challenges before it can achieve its goal, explaining that even if it is eventually adopted in plenary, it may still be overturned by the Supreme Court.
For now, Lacson said the draft resolution cannot be read on the Senate floor because it has no author. He said it will have to be authored by at least one senator and go through the usual referral to an appropriate committee that will submit a committee report after being signed by the majority of the committee members and finally adopted or approved in plenary.
“Even if majority of senators signed the resolution, it must be formally adopted in plenary. If the signatories change their minds and withdraw support, there is a chance the resolution won’t be adopted,” he said.
Several senators, including Senate President Francis Escudero, denied receiving a draft resolution allegedly seeking to dismiss the trial against Duterte.
No senator has confirmed the legitimacy of the document as of now.
READ: Sara Duterte’s trial: War of words rages outside Senate as impeachment court
But Sen. Imee Marcos confirmed seeing several versions of a measure seeking to address the questions raised on the pending impeachment case against Duterte. /jpv