LACSON: RULE OF LAW MUST BE RESPECTED IN SC RULING ON VP DUTERTE’S IMPEACHMENT CASE

THE Supreme Court’s ruling on the unconstitutionality of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case must be accepted and respected, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.

Lacson said this is a matter of respecting the rule of law, as he pointed out that his sentiment would have been the same even if the High Court ruled otherwise.

“Agree or disagree, right or wrong, just or unjust, faultless or defective – we must accept and respect the SC ruling on the unconstitutionality of VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment case. They are not called the ‘gods of Padre Faura’ for nothing,” he said.

“This is not about politics or who gains or loses. If the SC ruling went the other way, my sentiment would be the same. Simply put, it is about respecting the rule of law,” he added.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court denied with finality the House of Representatives’ appeal to reverse its ruling last July 25, which declared unconstitutional the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President.

SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting was quoted as saying the High Court voted to uphold that the fourth impeachment complaint against the Vice President was covered by the one-year bar rule where impeachment proceedings cannot be initiated against the same official more than once within one year.

Earlier, Lacson pointed out that the rule of law may end up as the biggest loser if the High Court’s decision on the impeachment case is not followed.

“My view is that the High Court is the final arbiter and interpreter of the Constitution. We can expect no interpretation of the law other than the Supreme Court,” he said.