The Senate is weighing whether to designate Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as an impeachment manager should the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte proceed, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson disclosed Wednesday.
The idea originated with Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who raised the proposal during a separate discussion with Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Lacson said both he and Sotto signaled their agreement.
“Since Senator Zubiri, the majority leader, is not a lawyer. So, we’re planning to appoint an impeachment manager,” Lacson said at the Kapihan sa Senado. “We’re considering Senator Kiko since he’s a lawyer.”
Lacson described the position as functioning similarly to that of a floor leader — someone with a legal background capable of ruling on procedural questions, directing the flow of the trial, and keeping order during proceedings.
“I said I also agree, because we really need someone with a legal mind — a real lawyer — there, since we’re just lawyers who only sometimes get things right by chance,” Lacson added.
The senator was careful to note the proposal has not yet been formally presented to the full Senate or the majority bloc. “We haven’t taken this up yet with the majority or the full Senate. But when Senator Zubiri and I were discussing it, and I was there when he made the suggestion, the Senate president was amenable,” he said.
The House committee on justice has already approved a report containing the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte after finding probable cause. A vote of at least one-third of all House members is required to transmit the Articles to the Senate, which would then convene as an impeachment court.
