Lacson not off the hook yet, says Cayetano

Despite Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile's statement that there was no need for any disciplinary action against Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said the fugitive lawmaker is not off the hook yet in light of the pending ethics complaint filed against him. Cayetano, who chairs the Senate ethics and privileges committee, said that although he cannot predict whether the panel will rule against Lacson, he also cannot assure the public that they won't. "We should send a clear message that senators are not above the law," he said at a press briefing on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Enrile said there was no need yet to initiate any disciplinary action against Lacson because there is still a pending case against him in the court. Lacson is facing double murder charges before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18 for his alleged involvement in the November 2000 twin killings of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. An arrest warrant has been issued against him but Lacson, who has been in hiding for almost a year now, has repeatedly maintained his innocence. The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) has likewise filed an ethics complaint against Lacson for his failure to surrender himself to proper authorities; fleeing the country to evade arrest; and his continued absence from the Senate sessions. Rules of the Senate Under its rules, the Senate may punish any of its members for disorderly behavior and with the concurrence of the chamber's membership, suspend or expel any of its members upon the recommendation of the ethics committee. Cayetano, for his part, said there is no problem if they will hear the complaint while the court also decides on the case against Lacson because they are different issues. He said the ethics committee will hold an organizational meeting either on January 18 or 19, when Congress has already resumed session. He said they still have to determine the rules on how to tackle the complaint, specifically what actually constitutes disorderly behavior that damages the integrity of the Senate and whether they will consider offenses that were committed when the accused was not yet in position. Cayetano noted, however, that since he is part of the minority, he will only play the role of a convenor who will entertain motions and one who stirs the committee in the right direction. "Kung wala silang faith sa akin (If they don't have faith in me), they can remove me or I can resign," he said. The other members of the Senate ethics committee are Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Loren Legarda, Lito Lapid, Joker Arroyo, and ex-officio members Enrile and Senate Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada. Suspension of Lacson's salary Last year, the Senate suspended Lacson's salary amounting to P36,000 a month and office budget amounting P2 million a month. His employees have likewise been trasnferred to different departments in the Senate, mostly to the Office of the Senate Secretary. Despite this, Enrile had said that Lacson is still recognized as a senator of the republic and that his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) remains intact. — RSJ, GMANews.TV