Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday denied reports that he had recently met with Vice President Sara Duterte, calling the rumors “absolutely false and outright malicious.”
Lacson, elected under the administration coalition in the 2025 midterm polls, emphasized that meeting with Duterte—who is facing an impeachment trial—would be highly inappropriate. He pointed out that as a potential senator-judge in the upcoming Senate trial, it would be improper to have any direct interaction with the respondent.
“Under ordinary circumstances, a courtesy visit would be acceptable,” Lacson said, citing his past visit to then-Vice President Leni Robredo in 2016. “But this situation is entirely different.”
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5 with the backing of over 200 lawmakers, accusing her of betrayal of public trust, constitutional violations, corruption, and other high crimes. Duterte has since petitioned the Supreme Court to challenge the complaint’s validity.
The Senate trial is scheduled to begin on July 30.