Senator Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson pushed back against insinuations that he was “playing safe” after choosing to abstain from voting on the motion to archive the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate.

In a television interview on Friday, Lacson emphasized that his abstention was not a political maneuver but a deliberate decision grounded in legal principle and respect for the Supreme Court’s authority.

“I did not ‘play safe.’ Rather, I am acting out of respect for the Supreme Court,” Lacson said, addressing criticism from some groups.

“I followed the Supreme Court, and I do not want to preempt it because it has not issued a final decision…I abstained out of respect for the Supreme Court,” he further pressed.

The senator was referring to the still-pending motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives, through the Office of the Solicitor General, which seeks to reverse the High Court’s earlier decision declaring the impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte unconstitutional.

Lacson also clarified that casting either a “Yes” or “No” vote at this stage could be construed as preempting the Supreme Court’s final decision.

“A 'Yes' vote is tantamount to preempting the final SC ruling, post MR; while a 'No' vote (or against archiving the Articles of Impeachment) is partial, not complete adherence,” he pointed out.

Lacson reiterated that his abstention represents the most constitutionally sound and neutral stance, given the unresolved status of the case in the judiciary.

The senator said he is deliberately refraining from commenting on the merits of the impeachment complaint, stressing that doing so could compromise his objectivity if the Senate eventually convenes as an impeachment court.

“I'd rather not comment on the merits of the case because if the high court reverses its earlier decision and we convene as an impeachment court, I could be telegraphing my moves. I want to see the evidence first,” Lacson stressed, maintaining he will base his decision on the evidence to be presented.