Latest news with #DeLima
GMA Network
20 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
De Lima: Resked of impeach raps reading meant to 'kill' Sara trial
Incoming ML Partylist representative Leila de Lima raised alarm Friday over the Senate's decision to move the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte from June 2 to June 11, calling it a potential strategy to derail the process. "Isa 'yan sa mga senyales na sa tingin ko, may nangyayari. Sa tingin ko, mayroon nang ganyang usapan—na kino-consider na nila 'yan to kill the impeachment trial," said De Lima, who is set to join the House impeachment prosecution panel. (I think that's one of the signs that something's happening. I think with these discussions, they are considering to kill the impeachment trial.) De Lima aired her concern at the Agenda at the Club Filipino news forum, warning that by the time June 11 arrives, the Senate might simply vote not to proceed with the trial. "Ang nai-imagine ko na, na come June 11, sasabihin na naman nila, 'Okay, hindi na puwede. Let's put it to a vote.' Hindi tayo makakasiguro na majority of them will say, 'Okay, let's proceed,'" she said. "I can only foresee na on that last day, sasabihin na lang nila na hindi na puwede." (I would imagine that come June 11, they'll say, 'Okay, we can't do it anymore. Let's put it to a vote.' We can't be assured that majority of them will say, 'Okay, let's proceed.') Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero earlier informed the House of Representatives that the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment has been reset to June 11, just three days before Congress adjourns sine die on June 14. In a letter to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Escudero said both chambers needed to prioritize legislation under the administration's agenda, and address over 200 presidential appointments still pending confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. "With only six session days before the sine die adjournment, it is imperative for the Senate and the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of these measures," Escudero said. GMA Integrated News has requested comment from Escudero regarding De Lima's statements, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. Meanwhile, De Lima also suggested that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s public remarks distancing himself from the issue may have influenced the Senate's handling of the timeline. "Sa mga public statements na 'yon, may epekto rin 'yan sa dilly-dally [ng impeachment] (Those statements have an effect on the dillying-dallying of the impeachment process)," she said. Malacañang said Friday the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte is beyond the reach of Marcos. The President has previously said that he was not in favor of the impeachment trial as it would take away Congress' focus from the passage of critical pieces of legislation. De Lima questioned the repeated delays, noting that even in the House, the initial transmission of the articles was held off due to budget deliberations. "I'm also questioning that—kasi ilang beses na ba namo-move (because it's been moved repeatedly)?" she said. "Hindi agad pinadala noon kasi ang excuse nila is budget hearing. Prioritized ang budget hearing bago kinonsider ang mga complaint." (Back then, it wasn't transmitted right away because their excuse was that there were budget hearings. However, budget hearings are prioritized before complaints are considered.) De Lima argued that the Senate should have acted on the impeachment trial as soon as the House voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, and transmitted the complaint last February. "That term 'shall forthwith' is there in the Constitution—nilabag na agad 'yon eh at that point (it was violated right away at that point)," she said, referring to the constitutional requirement that the Senate must proceed with the trial immediately after receiving the Articles of Impeachment. Also on Friday, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel said he would ask Escudero about his decision to move the presentation of articles, noting that the later had issued an "impeachment calendar" months ago. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
De Lima unfazed by Pulse survey showing 50% 'disagree' with VP Sara's impeachment
ML party-list Rep.-elect and House prosecutor Leila de Lima is unfazed by the unpopularity of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment, as shown in the latest Pulse Asia survey which showed at least 50% disagreed with the move. "Wala pong epekto iyon [survey]. Para sa akin, and ganun rin siguro ang nasa isipan ng mga iba lang member ng prosecution panel, na hindi po kami magpapadala sa surveys ng ganyan," De Lima said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Tuesday. (Surveys have no bearing at this point. We prosecutors won't be swayed by that.) "Kasi parang yung election din ito, diba. Sa election, may mga surveys. Pero, I always believe na ang tunay na surveys, election day mismo. Nakita natin ito noong nakaraan na eleksiyon lang na hindi talaga tumugma 'yung naging surveys," added De Lima. (It happened last election; the pre-election surveys did not match the election results.) "Dito sa usapin ng impeachment, kailangan lang makita, malaman ng mga tao, during the presentation of evidence, kung gaano kalakas yung mga ebidensya. At siguro, kung malakas talaga ang ebidensya, magbabago yung kaisipan ng ilan o karamihan dun sa mga surveys na 'yan," explained De Lima. (When it comes to impeachment, the public just needs to know what the evidence is and the weight of such evidence. If the evidence is airtight, they will change their minds and the survey results will change.) Public opinion De Lima also said that it is premature to ask the public about the impeachment trial since the full-blown proceedings has yet to start. "Iyong totoong magiging public opinion rito is during the impeachment proceedings... as it goes along, habang pinepresent na lalo ng prosecution iyong mga ebidensiya," said De Lima. (The true public opinion will surface during the impeachment proceedings, once the evidence are presented.) According to the report on the survey conducted from May 6 to 9 nationwide among 1,200 registered voters, 28% agree with the filing of the impeachment case by the House of Representatives. The survey had an overall margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points. A copy of the report on the results has been posted on Pulse Asia's website. Twenty-one percent could not say if they agreed or disagreed. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, 2025 with over 200 congressmen endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes mainly over alleged misuse of around P612.5 million worth of confidential funds and threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., his wife Liza and the President's cousin and Speaker, Leyte First District Rep. Martin Romualdez. The Vice President, for her part, said she is looking forward to her impeachment trial in the upcoming 20th Congress because she 'wants a bloodbath,'' noting that her legal team is on "full throttle" in their preparations. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
De Lima: Premature to ask senators VP Sara endorsed to recuse from impeachment trial
'As a lawyer and former Justice Secretary, I believe that every senator has the duty to judge the impeachment based on the evidence and the Constitution. Nothing more, nothing less," De Lima said. It is premature to ask senators whose candidacies have been endorsed by Vice President Sara Duterte to recuse themselves from her impeachment trial, ML party-list Representative-elect Leila De Lima said on Monday. De Lima, a former senator and a former secretary of justice, instead called on the senators to rule on the articles of impeachment against Sara Duterte based on the evidence and the 1987 Constitution. 'As a lawyer and former Justice Secretary, I believe that every senator has the duty to judge the impeachment based on the evidence and the Constitution. Nothing more, nothing less," De Lima said. "So ang hiling po natin ay hindi mag-recuse o mag-inhibit, kundi tumingin sa ebidensiya, at tuparin ang sinumpaang tungkulin sa mga Pilipino,' she added. (Our wish is not for them to recuse or inhibit but to look at the evidence and do their sworn duty to the Filipinos.) De Lima is a member of the prosecution panel of the House of Representatives. She said it was important to stick with the impeachment process, and senator-judges should have the chance to prove their mettle and integrity, given that the trial will air on national television for the public to witness. 'Masyado pang maaga para ikonsidera ang issue ng possible inhibition. Tingnan muna natin kung ano talaga ang mga magiging asta o mga pahayag nila kapag mag-umpisa na ang impeachment trial proceedings,' De Lima said. (It is premature to consider the issue of possible inhibition. Let's first see how the senators will carry themselves when the impeachment trial proceedings start.) 'Dahil televised ang proceedings, makikita rin ng taumbayan kung makatwiran at makatarungan ang paghuhusga ng senator-judges, at hindi lamang batay sa loyalty sa kung kaninong politiko,' she added. (Since the proceedings are televised, the public will be able to witness if the Senator judges will be reasonable and can deliver justice instead of deciding based on loyalty to a certain politician.) Under the Constitution, the conviction of an impeached official requires 16 votes or two-thirds of the 24-member Senate. For an impeached official to be acquitted, he or she needs nine. The Vice President was impeached by the House of Reentatives on February 5, with over 200 congressmen endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes mainly over alleged misuse of around P612.5 million worth of confidential funds and threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., his wife First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and the President's cousin, Speaker, Leyte First District Rep. Martin Romualdez. The Vice President said she is looking forward to her impeachment trial in the upcoming 20th Congress because she 'wants a bloodbath,'' noting that her legal team is on "full throttle" in their preparations. –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
VP Sara wants ‘bloodbath?' De Lima, Diokno say impeachment a civilized process
Both have accepted the invitation to be members of the House prosecution panel in the trial of the Vice President before senators, sitting as an impeachment court. Leila De Lima and Chel Diokno, representatives-elect of the Mamamayang Liberal and Akbayan party-lists, on Monday called the impeachment trial a civilized and sacred process. They made their comments after Vice President Sara Duterte on saturday said, "I truly want a trial because I want a bloodbath.' Both have accepted the invitation to be members of the House prosecution panel in the trial of the Vice President before senators, sitting as an impeachment court. "Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling 'yun dahil ang impeachment trial ay isang civilized legal process at ang mangyayari doon ay malalaman ng buong bansa ang katotohanan," Diokno told reporters on the sidelines of the Comelec's proclamation of the 2025 partylist race winners. (I don't know where it's coming from because the impeachment trial is a civilized legal process. Because of it, the country will know the truth.) He said that Akbayan partylist, which got the most numbers of votes in the partylist race, was supporting the impeachment of Duterte to 'know the truth, exact accountability, and pursue justice for the country.' In a separate interview, De Lima said Duterte was trying to 'court sympathy' as the start of the impeachment trial drew near. 'Siguro ganon ang ginagawa ni VP Sara para lalo siyang, alam mo na, she's trying to court sympathy dahil mapalapit na nga yung impeachment trial,' De Lima, the first nominee of Mamamayang Liberal, said after the proclamation ceremony. (Perhaps, VP Sara is doing that because she's trying to court sympathy because the impeachment trial is drawin near.) 'Hindi po ganon ang impeachment proceedings. Sagrado po ang constitutional process of impeachment na dapat wala itong puwang para sa kagluhan, para sa chaos, para sa drama or para sa theatrics,' she added. (The impeachment proceedings isn't a bloodbath. The constitutional process of impeachment is sacred and it should have no space for chaos, drama, or theatrics.) De Lima said that the rule of law should be followed in the impeachment process. The House of Representatives has impeached the Vice President on February 5, accusing her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption and other high crimes based on the following seven Articles of Impeachment: alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez; alleged malversation of P612.5 Million in confidential funds with questionable liquidation documents; alleged bribery and corruption in the DepEd during Duterte's tenure by handing out cash to former DepEd Undersecretary Gloria Jumamil-Mercado (Procurement Head), Bids and Awards Committee Member Resty Osias, DepEd Chief Accountant Rhunna Catalan and Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda; alleged unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets in the Vice President's Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth where her wealth increased by four times from 2007 from 2017; alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City; alleged destabilization, insurrection, and public disorder efforts, which include: boycotting the State of the Nation Address (SONA) while declaring herself "designated survivor," leading rallies calling for Marcos' resignation, obstructing congressional investigations by ordering subordinates not to comply with subpoenas, threatening bodily harm against the First Couple and Romualdez, among others; the totality of the Vice President's conduct as the second highest official of the land. Both representatives-elect refuted the Vice President's claim that they were both 'anti-Duterte since birth,' adding that they raised concerns based on issues, not personalities. Asked if she though the House prosecution panel had enough evidence to win the trial, De Lima said, 'We are confident.' 'Hindi sana ako um-oo, hindi sana ako pumayag na maging part of the prosecution panel kung ang sa tingin ko ay hindi malakas ang kaso,' the former Justice secretary and now congresswoman-elect said. (I would not have said yes to becoming a part of the prosecution panel if I didn't think the case was strong.) De Lima said there's strong pieces of evidence from the hearings in the House of Representatives that could be used in the impeachment trial. 'Winner-take-all' Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor, one of the prosecutors in the impeachment trial, said the process didn't have to be a bloodbath. 'Maganda sigurong sabihin natin na 'winner takes it all' ang impeachment trial na ito. Hindi kailangan maging bloodbath. Gusto natin malinaw lang ang pagkakatatag ng ebidensya ng prosecution at ng defense teams,' Defensor, who won his reelection bid in the 2025 polls, said. (It would be better to say it will be a winner-takes-all scenario. We don't need a bloodbath. What we need is a clear presentation of evidence from both the prosecution and defense teams.) 'Gusto ko makita na handa si Vice President para sakaling ma-acquit siya… madaling tanggapin ng taumbayan, madaling tanggapin ng 215 members of Congress who signed the impeachment complaint. At sana, 'wag pakialaman ng ating Korte Suprema ang impeachment. This is a purely political process,' he added. (I want to see the Vice President well prepared so that in the event that she is acquitted, the public and the lawmakers who signed on her impeachment complaint will be able to accept it. And I hope that the Supreme Court will not stand in the way of the impeachment because this is a purely political process.) –NB, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
DOJ: De Lima's acquittal stands for now, CA only asked RTC to clarify ruling
The Department of Justice clarified that the Court of Appeals did not overturn former Senator Leila De Lima's acquittal in one of her drug cases. Instead, the appellate court merely remanded the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court's decision for clarification. DOJ spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano emphasized that this move does not constitute a reversal of De Lima's acquittal. 'This is not a reversal per se… it is more of a remanding of the decision to clarify the decision,' Clavano said. He added that the acquittal appears to remain in effect while the Court of Appeals reviews the case, as the other party still has the option to file a motion for reconsideration. De Lima earlier said she plans to appeal the CA ruling to the Supreme Court. Speaking on 'Balitanghali,' she questioned the basis of the decision, saying it seemed to criticize the RTC judge's manner of writing rather than ordering a retrial. 'It only says to fix the decision to comply with the constitutional standard of clarity,' De Lima said in Filipino. As the case returns to the Muntinlupa RTC, the Office of the Solicitor General said DOJ prosecutors will handle it in the lower court. 'The CA decision speaks for itself… the DOJ prosecutors will take it from there,' Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra told reporters. If the case reaches the Supreme Court, the OSG will represent the state. However, Clavano clarified that the DOJ's role in the case has largely concluded. 'Our prosecutors participated in the RTC proceedings, but under the law, the OSG takes over when a criminal case is appealed to the Court of Appeals,' he said. Clavano also stressed that De Lima is not a party to the certiorari petition filed by the OSG. Instead, the respondent is Judge Abraham Alcantara of RTC Branch 204, who previously acquitted De Lima and her former aide Ronnie Dayan. The certiorari questions alleged grave abuse of discretion on the part of the judge, not the merits of the acquittal itself.
