De Lima Slams Senate for Lighting Constitution Aflame
Incoming Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Representative Leila de Lima strongly criticized the Senate for “lighting the Constitution aflame” in its handling of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte. De Lima, one of the 11 House prosecutors, expressed deep frustration over the Senate’s recent actions, which she called a blatant disregard for legal process.
“Harap-harapan na tayong niloloko. Kakaibang korte ito–korte ng kababalaghan,” De Lima said in a video posted on X late Wednesday, June 11. “We’re being deceived right to our faces. This is no ordinary court—it’s a court of absurdities.”
Senate Returns Impeachment Articles to House
Earlier that day, the Senate impeachment court voted 18-5 to send the articles of impeachment back to the House of Representatives. The Senate argued this move was necessary to certify that the case did not violate the rule limiting one impeachment case per year. However, De Lima dismissed this as baseless and legally unfounded.
“Now the Senate as impeachment court has just lit the Constitution aflame,” she said. “All the proceedings and motions taken in this so-called impeachment court have no legal basis; where on earth does a judge move to dismiss the complaint without hearing the parties first?”
De Lima Highlights Lack of Due Process
She emphasized that the recent Senate actions ignored constitutional rules and the principles of due process. “We have just witnessed proceedings without boundaries, while the Constitution, the law, and the rules burn,” she added. According to De Lima, sending the impeachment complaint back to the House was essentially a dismissal disguised as a procedural move.
“Di na kinailangan ng abugado dito dahil wala na sa batas ang pinag-usapan. Kaya tuloy, sana sa palengke na lang finile ang impeachment case. At least doon, may nagtitinda ng totoo,” she remarked, underscoring the absurdity of the situation by saying lawyers were no longer needed because the discussions no longer followed the law.
Senate President Criticized for Delay
De Lima also criticized the Senate President for the delay in convening the impeachment court. The Senate only met as an impeachment court on Tuesday, more than four months after the House impeached Vice President Duterte and forwarded the articles. She questioned the procedural legitimacy of the Senate’s actions.
“Where is it in the rules of impeachment that a senator-judge can move for a dismissal? Where is it written that the impeachment court can remand the complaint to the House as a nice way of dismissing it?” she asked.
“Malinaw na walang due process. Sila-sila lang sa Senate ang nag-motion at nag-rule sa sarili nilang motion,” she added, highlighting the Senate’s unilateral decisions.
Support for Senators Upholding the Constitution
Despite her fierce criticism, De Lima praised Senators Risa Hontiveros, Koko Pimentel, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Grace Poe for standing firm on constitutional principles. These senators voted against returning the impeachment case to the House.
“Shame on the rest for this travesty and ignominy that will mark them for the rest of their lives. Hindi pa ito tapos. The fight for truth and accountability continues,” De Lima concluded.
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