Senator Panfilo Lacson INQUIRER/JOAN BONDOC
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo Lacson defended Tuesday his support for a resolution, allowing detained Senator Leila de Lima to participate in Senate proceedings through videoconferencing.
Lacson, who co-authored the resolution, said he would have done the same for Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada if he was in the Senate when they were detained.
Revilla, Enrile, and Estrada were all charged and detained over the pork barrel scam. Revilla was acquitted of plunder while Enrile and Estrada are out on bail.
“If I was in the Senate when Sen Revilla was incarcerated along with Sens Estrada and Enrile, I would have supported their participation as well since we had earlier allowed Senator (Antonio) Trillanes the same privilege when he was detained after he won a Senate seat in 2007,” Lacson said in a text message.
“In fact, as Chair of the Committee on Accounts, I recommended the procurement of the technical equipment needed for the purpose,” he added.
Lacson made the remark when he was sought for comment on Revilla’s statement against giving De Lima “special treatment.”
READ: Detained De Lima in Senate sessions? No to special treatment, says Revilla
He pointed out, however, that the Senate is a “deliberative body.” And the resolution, urging De Lima’s participation in Senate proceedings, has already been referred to the Senate committee on rules, he said.
“It would now be up to the committee to decide whether or not to recommend to plenary the adoption of the said resolution,” Lacson said.
“Nothing in the resolution states that Sen. de Lima should be allowed to vote since, under the Rules of the Senate, her physical presence is required,” he further explained.
Lacson, nevertheless, said: “I respect Sen Revilla’s position on the issue which he can further articulate if and when the chair of the committee on rules presents his recommendation to the body in plenary.”