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GMA Network
7 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
The Star
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Philippine court voids acquittal of Duterte critic on drug case
Former Senator Leila de Lima. MANILA (Bloomberg): A Philippine court has nullified an earlier decision of a lower court to acquit former Senator Leila de Lima on a drug case, a fresh setback for one of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte's critics who just won a seat in Congress. The judge from a branch of the Muntinlupa regional tribunal in Manila "failed to discuss the specific proven facts as well as the laws upon which his pronouncement of acquittal was based,' the Court of Appeals said in a copy of its April 30 decision made available on Thursday. In May 2023, the regional trial court said there's reasonable doubt on de Lima's alleged involvement in a conspiracy for illegal drug trade at a national penitentiary after a key witness recanted his testimony. But the appeals court said the Muntinlupa court judge failed to state the specific statements that the witness retracted and which particular element of the crime charged was not proven. It has remanded the case back to the Muntinlupa tribunal. De Lima's lawyer Dino de Leon said they will file a motion for reconsideration with the appellate court. "We believe that the Court of Appeals committed a reversible error in this particular instance and we will of course exercise remedies available to us,' he said in an interview with local television ABS-CBN News Channel, adding the ex-senator was "disappointed' with the decision. De Lima was cleared of her remaining drug case in June. She was released on bail in 2023 after more than six years in detention. The decision comes as de Lima is set to return to Congress, being the first nominee to the House of Representatives of a winning party-list group at Monday's midterm election. -- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Philippine court voids acquittal of Duterte critic on drug case
A Philippine court has nullified an earlier decision of a lower court to acquit former Senator Leila de Lima on a drug case. PHOTO: AFP MANILA - A Philippine court has nullified an earlier decision of a lower court to acquit former Senator Leila de Lima on a drug case, a fresh setback for one of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte's critics who just won a seat in Congress. The judge from a branch of the Muntinlupa regional tribunal in Manila 'failed to discuss the specific proven facts as well as the laws upon which his pronouncement of acquittal was based', the Court of Appeals said in a copy of its April 30 decision made available on May 15. In May 2023, the regional trial court said there's reasonable doubt on de Lima's alleged involvement in a conspiracy for illegal drug trade at a national penitentiary after a key witness recanted his testimony. But the appeals court said the Muntinlupa court judge failed to state the specific statements that the witness retracted and which particular element of the crime charged was not proven. It has remanded the case back to the Muntinlupa tribunal. De Lima's lawyer Dino de Leon said they will file a motion for reconsideration with the appellate court. 'We believe that the Court of Appeals committed a reversible error in this particular instance and we will of course exercise remedies available to us,' he said in an interview with local television ABS-CBN News Channel, adding the ex-senator was 'disappointed' with the decision. De Lima was cleared of her remaining drug case in June. She was released on bail in 2023 after more than six years in detention. The decision comes as de Lima is set to return to Congress, being the first nominee to the House of Representatives of a winning party-list group at the May 12 midterm election. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
