Confidence in Evidence Against Vice President
ML Partylist’s first nominee Leila de Lima expressed strong confidence that the House Prosecution Panel will secure a conviction in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. She emphasized the strength of the evidence, stating, “Malinaw na malakas ang ebidensiya against the vice president.” This 4-word keyphrase highlights the core of her belief in the case’s merit.
De Lima shared that the prosecution team feels assured about their position. “The prosecution would always have that feeling of confidence. And that’s why I agreed to be part of the prosecution because I believe that there is merit in the case and the evidence is strong,” she added.
The Role of Public Opinion in the Trial
When asked about how Duterte’s Senate allies might influence the impeachment, De Lima pointed to the importance of public opinion. Since the proceedings are open and transparent, many people will be watching closely. She explained, “Open and public yung proceedings, right? So many people, ang dami talaga na manonood ng proceedings na yan. So kung talagang malakas ang ebidensya at maayos ang pagkakapresenta, malinaw ang pagkakapresenta ng prosecution panel, magiging malinaw din yan sa kaisipan ng mga tao. And therefore, magiging factor yung public opinion.”
She stressed that senators voting on acquittal or conviction must consider the people’s judgment. “Yung mga individual senators who will be voting for either acquittal or conviction will have to take that into consideration, na ultimately ang huhusga ay yung taongbayan,” she said. De Lima warned that if the Senate errs in its decision, senators will be held accountable to the public.
Joining the House Prosecution Panel
De Lima recounted her conversation with the House Speaker who invited her to join the prosecution team. “Yesterday afternoon around 4:00, tumawag na. I got a call from Speaker Romualdez and he told me about it. First, he congratulated me and then he said that they would be delighted or it would be good for the prosecution team if I join them,” she recalled.
Although she initially asked for time to consider, she ultimately agreed due to the urgency of preparations and after consulting her team and lawyers. De Lima also noted that her participation isn’t driven by politics or personal vendetta. “I’m not doing this out of anything, out of any other motive except to uphold truth, justice, and accountability… I’m sure people, some people would again be saying na maybe she’s doing this out of vendetta, out of vindictiveness. No, hindi po,” she said.
Focus on Accountability, Not Politics
De Lima, a longtime critic of the Duterte administration’s policies, particularly the war on drugs, was detained for seven years on drug-related charges that were eventually dropped. She was released in November 2023 and now approaches the impeachment trial with a clear purpose.
She emphasized, “This is not about politics, this is not about personalities. It’s just about upholding the Constitution, particularly the high principle of accountability of public officials holding high government offices like the vice president.”
Her commitment underscores that the impeachment trial is centered on justice and responsibility rather than political rivalry.
For more updates on the impeachment trial, visit Filipinokami.com.