Senator Panfilo Lacson has called on his fellow senators to help restore the dignity of the Senate following the May 13 shooting incident that placed the institution in the international spotlight for the wrong reasons. In a radio interview on Friday, Lacson emphasized the need for the chamber to recover by acting with restraint, maturity, and fidelity to its constitutional duties, including its expected convening as an impeachment court for the case of Vice President Sara Duterte.
International Attention for Wrong Reasons
Lacson noted that the shooting incident made international news headlines, describing it as ugly and damaging to the Senate's reputation. He reminded his colleagues that the word Senate stems from the Latin word senatus, meaning wise and mature men. Moving forward, he urged them to do what is right and avoid showing immaturity that could worsen the situation.
Impeachment Court as a First Step
The senator highlighted that the Senate's planned convening as an impeachment court on May 18 would be a good first step toward recovery. He pointed out that the Constitution requires the chamber to act promptly upon receiving the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives. Lacson stressed that adhering to this constitutional mandate is essential for rebuilding public confidence.
Focus on Rebuilding Trust
Lacson called on senators to engage in individual and collective self-reflection to perform their duties effectively. He said their focus should now be on redeeming the Senate from its current situation and restoring public trust in the institution.
Addressing Allegations
Lacson dismissed insinuations that members of the minority bloc left the Senate early on Wednesday night because they had prior knowledge of the incident. He described such claims as unfair and malicious, emphasizing that no one knew what would happen that night. He urged the public to wait for the results of the investigation, including closed-circuit television footage and witness testimonies, before drawing conclusions.
Lacson also refuted claims that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the arrest of Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa at all costs, calling the allegation irresponsible. He argued that such instructions would be impossible and that if they were true, the Senate would have been assaulted with casualties.
Clarifying the Attack Narrative
On the claim that the Senate was under attack, Lacson said investigators must establish the facts. He noted reports that Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms head Mao Aplasca admitted to firing the first warning shot. Lacson reasoned that if the Senate were truly under attack, the attacker should have fired first. He reiterated the importance of waiting for the investigation results based on CCTV footage and witness testimonies before drawing conclusions.
