Enrile nixes Senate resolution on Ping

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has rejected a proposal of Sen. Gregorio Honasan for the Senate to pass a resolution expressing its sense on the case of Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

“I don’t think I will go along with that (resolution)... that would already be a pressure on the court,” Enrile said. 

He said the Senate resolution on Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is different.

“We are asking for transfer of custody,” he said. “We are not asking for dismissal of the case.”

Enrile said the Senate can issue a resolution seeking the transfer of Lacson’s custody once he is arrested or once he surrenders to the police.

“We will do the same for Ping if he is placed in custody of the executive,” he said.

Speaking over radio station dzBB, Enrile said he has discussed Lacson’s case with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

“(De Lima said that) while she was willing to look at the evidence again, the problem is the information has already been filed in the courts,” he said. “And as far as the matter is concerned, there is probable cause.”

Enrile said he does not want to pressure the Department of Justice nor the courts, but that he has responsibility over the fate of other senators.

“I did it as Senate President,” he said. “It’s my duty. I do not interfere with the judicial process. All I am saying is, can this be done for a member of the Senate? I have to fight for the members of the Senate... except I have to exercise the separation of powers.”

Enrile said De Lima has advised him that the “better course” is for Lacson to file a petition for bail and let the courts decide whether the evidence of guilt is strong.

He met with De Lima several months before deciding to suspend the budget of Lacson’s office upon the recommendation of the Commission on Audit, he added. 

Enrile said he believes Lacson cannot be convicted in a fair trial because the conflicting statements of former police officers Glenn Dumlao and Cezar Mancao II cannot establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

“If you are a judge, trying a case given the fact, what they say is you have to convict a person charged beyond reasonable doubt, that’s beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.

“A skillful lawyer can create a wide area of doubt to attack the case of the government. Based on my experience as a lawyer, if I were to handle the case of Ping, I am confident I can bail him out,” he said.

NBI fails to catch Lacson

National Bureau of Investigation agents failed to catch Lacson after a series of raids in Tanauan City and San Luis town, both in Batangas, last Saturday, police said.

Tanauan police director Superintendent Manuel Manalo said police were able to log the incident, although the NBI did not coordinate with them.

About 12 NBI agents, with at least 10 media vehicles converged on A. Mabini Avenue in Barangay Sambat at around 2 p.m. Saturday to serve a warrant of arrest on Lacson at the house of former Tanauan mayor Tony Halili in Josefa Subdivision, he added.

Manalo said the NBI swooped down on Halili’s residence at around 3 p.m. but failed to catch Lacson.

“They allowed us to enter but Lacson wasn’t there,” he said.

Halili denied hiding Lacson and insisted that he last saw the senator in the last local elections.

The NBI agents hurriedly left the area after the operation without even giving their names to the police, Manalo said. - With Edu Punay and Arnell Ozaeta