Supreme Court sets oral arguments in KB case

Government prosecutors and lawyers of Sen. Panfilo Lacson will come face to face on Feb. 19 when the Supreme Court sets oral arguments on the move to revive the 1995 Kuratong Baleleng case.

In a one-page resolution, the High Court ordered the Office of the Solicitor General, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Lacson’s lawyers from the Fortun, Narvasa and Salazar Law Office to appear on Feb. 19 for the oral arguments.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez is confident the government will win the case, saying "substantive law must prevail over procedural law."

Lacson’s lawyers have argued that he can no longer be tried in connection with the alleged rubout of 11 Kuratong Baleleng members because the case is covered by a two-year prohibition, having been dismissed by the Quezon City court in March 1999.

The DOJ refiled the case on May 31 last year after three new witnesses came forward. But the Court of Appeals, three months later, favored Lacson, prompting the DOJ to raise the issue to the High Court. - Delon Porcalla