MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he is prepared to oppose and vote against any motion seeking to stop or delay the Senate from convening as an impeachment court in the possible impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a post on X, Lacson clarified his earlier remarks and emphasized that the Senate has a constitutional obligation to convene as an impeachment court if necessary.

“For context, I did not say I will not oppose and vote against any motion to stop or delay the convening of the Senate into an impeachment court, if it comes to that. That said, the Senate is a collegial, deliberative body that is always ruled by the vote of the majority,” he said.

He added that the Constitution provides legal remedies should disputes arise over the impeachment process.

“If this constitutional issue arises, the Supreme Court may intervene to compel the Senate to perform our constitutional duty,” he added.

Lacson stressed that his position against delaying the Senate’s convening should not be interpreted as a stand on whether to convict or acquit Duterte should an impeachment trial proceed.

“This position to oppose any attempt to block the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court has nothing to do with my decision to convict or acquit the respondent as I will always be guided by the evidence to be presented and nothing else,” he stressed.

During the Kapihan sa Senado forum on May 6, Lacson said senators should be ready to address possible issues that may emerge during the impeachment process, including a hypothetical motion to prevent the Senate from convening as an impeachment court.

He noted that the issue could eventually reach the Supreme Court because holding an impeachment trial is part of the Senate’s constitutional mandate.

“Constitutional duty yan. (The ones who move to stop the convening into an impeachment court) must be able to convince the majority to vote in their favor (The impeachment trial is a constitutional duty. The ones who move to stop the convening into an impeachment court must be able to convince the majority to vote in their favor),” he said.

“Kung ganoon ang mangyari, it’s on them. Sila ang sumagot sa taumbayan kung bakit ayaw mag-convene (If that happens, it’s on them. They must explain to the people why they don’t want the Senate to convene into an impeachment court),” he added.