Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - There is no foreshadowing threat against the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III amid the possibility of an impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Saturday.</p><p>Lacson said that this early, he and Sotto have started taking &quot;crash courses&quot; or briefings on legal matters - such as the Rules of Court and Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure - to prepare for the possible transmission of the impeachment case to the Senate.</p><p>&quot;Impeachment trial or no impeachment trial, there&#x27;s always the possibility of an attempt at leadership change. That will not go away. Such plots are usually hatched during session breaks,&quot; he said in a statement.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/14/more-witnesses-expected-as-house-conducts-2nd-vp-sara-impeachment-hearing-0848"><strong>Madriaga appears at second Duterte impeachment hearing </strong></a></div><div> </div><p>&quot;At least to my knowledge, the majority bloc is solid because Senate President Sotto is leading well.&quot;</p><p>Lacson said both he and Sotto are studying the Rules of Court and Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure to prepare for the possibility of an impeachment trial, as they have suppletory applications. </p><p>Lacson said he is also consulting with retired justices and legal experts.</p><div> </div><div><strong>MARCOLETA</strong></div><p>On the other hand, Lacson said he already advised Sotto to prepare for possible attempts by Senator Rodante Marcoleta to block the impeachment trial by questioning its basis.</p><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/17/house-justice-panel-to-discuss-whether-to-invite-martires-others-to-impeachment-probe-1903"><strong>House justice panel to discuss whether to invite Martires, others to impeachment probe</strong></a></div><div> </div><p>&quot;The answer to Marcoleta&#x27;s threat lies in one word: Constitution,&quot; Lacson said, citing the advice of a retired justice, as he stressed senators have a constitutional duty to proceed as senator-judges in an impeachment trial.</p><p>He also said that should Marcoleta put into question their constitutional duty as senator-judges, he could even be asked to join the defense team.</p><p>&quot;It depends on how he will present his arguments. If needed, he may be told to join the defense team,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>There is no foreshadowing threat against the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III amid the possibility of an impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Saturday.</p>

There is no foreshadowing threat against the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III amid the possibility of an impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson sees no threat to Sotto-led Senate leadership amid looming Sara impeachment trial

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Lacson sees no threat to Sotto-led Senate leadership amid looming Sara impeachment trial

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 18, 2026 05:55 PM PHT

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Senate

Vicente Sotto III< Panfilo Lacson

Impeachment

Sara Duterte

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