There’s a lot of drama happening in the Philippine government right now — and Senator Panfilo Lacson just gave a serious reminder to his fellow senators:
“Act like real judges or it could be embarrassing!”
Here’s what’s going on:
🏛️ What’s This All About?
Vice President Sara Duterte is facing an impeachment trial. That means some lawmakers believe she did something wrong and are trying to remove her from office. The case was sent by the House of Representatives to the Senate for trial.
The Senate will now act like a special court. The 24 senators will become “senator-judges” — people who must listen to all the evidence carefully and help decide if VP Sara should stay in her position or be removed.
⚖️ Lacson’s Big Message: “Behave Like Judges!”
Senator Lacson said:
“Senators are not here to defend anyone or attack anyone. We are here to listen and decide fairly.”
He reminded everyone that a real judge doesn’t shout opinions or make unfair comments. Instead, judges only ask questions to better understand the facts — and that’s exactly how senator-judges should act, too.
📜 The Constitution Says So
Lacson explained that the 1987 Constitution, which is like the rulebook for the Philippines, says senator-judges must “try and decide” the case immediately — the word used is “forthwith,” meaning right away.
So he told everyone:
“Let’s not delay, let’s not get confused by different opinions. The Constitution is clear—listen, try, and decide.”
🧠 Focus on the Evidence, Ignore the Noise
Lacson warned senators not to be distracted by TV news, social media, or public opinion.
He even said:
“We need blinders, like horses, to block out everything but the evidence.”
In the U.S., juries are separated from the outside world so they can focus only on the trial. Lacson said Filipino senators should do the same in their thinking.
❗ What If They Skip the Trial?
Some people say the Senate might dismiss the case without even holding a full trial.
But Lacson warned:
“If we do that, the Supreme Court might reverse our decision. That would be very embarrassing for the Senate.”
So he believes it’s better to let the trial happen properly and follow all the steps, just like a real courtroom.
🕒 What Happens Next?
The current 19th Congress ends on June 30, and the next one — the 20th Congress — starts on July 1. Senate President Francis Escudero, who will lead the impeachment court, said the trial will probably continue into the next Congress.
So now, all of the Philippines is watching:
👀 Will the senators act fair and focus like real judges?
⚖️ Will the trial go smoothly, or end in a mess?
📺 What will happen to Vice President Sara Duterte?
Only time will tell!
