Leila de Lima Questions SC Procedure on Ruling over Duterte’s Impeachment Articles: “Hindi man lang pinagsalita ang kabilang panig”

ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima Reacts To SC Ruling on Articles of Impeachment vs. VP Sara Duterte

LEILA DE LIMA – The former Senator questioned the procedure of the Supreme Court in deciding over the Articles of Impeachment versus Vice President Sara Duterte.

Recently, countless Filipinos were moved after the Supreme Court issued its ruling on the petition seeking for the dismissal of the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The said petition was filed by Duterte herself, Atty. Israelito Torreon, and several others.

The Supreme Court declared the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte as “unconstitutional”. According to the high court, the complaint “barred the one year ban rule” with regards to impeachments.

In 2024, four (4) impeachment complaints were filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte before the House of Representatives. It was in February of the current year when Duterte was impeached by the lower chamber and the 4th impeachment complaint was transmitted to the Senate.

However, before the 19th Congress adjourned, the Senate impeachment court ruled to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives. According to Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, it is a chance for the prosecution team to address the questions before the impeachment court makes a decision.

Eighteen (18) senator judges agreed on returning the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. Five (5) senator judges including opposition lawmakers, former Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel and Sen. Risa Hontiveros, opposed the motion.

One of the members of the prosecution team is former Sen. Leila de Lima who is now a representative of the Mamamayang Liberal or ML party-list in the Philippines. Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno also agreed to be part of the prosecution team.

Recently, following the verdict of the Supreme Court declaring the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte “unconstitutional”, ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima claimed that the decision of the court is “not only unprecedented”. Based on a report on Inquirer, she claimed that process is also allegedly “questionable”.

“Ito po ay isang hatol na ipinasa nang hindi man lang pinagsalita ang kabilang panig. The House of Representatives, the principal respondent in the case, was not given the opportunity to file a formal Comment as required by Rule 65, Section 6 of the Rules of Court. No such order was issued by the Court,” she said.

Based on the report, ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima further claimed that the Supreme Court issuing a written interrogatory instead of directing the House of Representatives to file a comment is allegedly “a rare, if not irregular, move”. According to her, the compliance of the House in the written interrogatory is allegedly not a formal responsive pleading but the Supreme Court treated it as if it was.

“Paano naglabas ng pinal na desisyon kung wala pang pormal na tugon ang respondent? Isang desisyong walang patas na proseso ay isang desisyong nakabitin sa ere,” De Lima said.

ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima stressed that she respects the Supreme Court but they must demand clarity and not shortcuts. According to her, the public deserves an explanation. She also left a message for the Filipino people who were disappointed by the turn of events.

“To those discouraged: I understand your dismay. But let me assure you: this is not vindication. This is not exoneration,” the former Senator said.

Recently, the House of Representatives also issued a statement on the ruling of the Supreme Court over the impeachment articles against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.