Sen. Panfilo Lacson is unhappy with the numerous objections lodged by the defense at Chief Justice Renato Corona’s impeachment trial and considers these a deterrent to swift justice.
He said he would officially manifest to his fellow senator-judges his observation that the proceedings were being “consistently bogged down by so many objections on the floor that accomplish nothing except a delay in the trial.”
Lacson said that after seeing the defense block the prosecution’s attempt to present evidence every step of the way, the proceedings so far had made him “understand why it is impossible for justice to be rendered swiftly and fairly.”
He said his experience as a law enforcement official had made him familiar with court processes, especially criminal litigation.
“A poor litigant will quit after exhausting whatever little savings he has when confronted in court by so many legal technicalities that delay his quest for justice,” Lacson said Friday in a text message.
He added: “Now I understand why poor litigants seek justice outside the courtroom, either by [taking] the law in their own hands to settle the score against a rich and powerful respondent, or turn to the [New People’s Army’s] kangaroo court.
“I intend to manifest next week before my co-jurors this observation, with the sole purpose of expediting the trial while preserving due process. There must be a balance between the two concerns, and we must find that balance.”
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