Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has pushed back against Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s claim that the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte has reached its end.
De Lima, a lawyer and former senator, clarified that the House of Representatives still has legal remedies at its disposal, despite the Supreme Court’s recent decision striking down the impeachment complaint due to a technicality.
“Hindi pa ho natin pwede tanggapin [na talo na] dahil meron pa ho tayong remedyo,” she said in an interview on Monday, August 4. She added that they are hopeful the Supreme Court will revisit the case once the motion for reconsideration (MR) is reviewed.
The comment comes after Mayor Duterte described the Supreme Court’s ruling as a “conclusion” to the case and urged pro-impeachment lawmakers to “accept their defeat.” However, De Lima stressed that this is not yet the final word.
“Umaasa pa po talaga kami na sa pag-file ng motion for reconsideration… magkakaroon ng re-examination especially of the material and crucial facts na medyo mali yung pagkaka-intindi ng Korte Suprema,” she emphasized.
The House’s motion for reconsideration was filed last Friday by a group led by Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña, who endorsed the original impeachment complaint.
For De Lima, this move signals that the fight is far from over. “So hindi po dapat kaagad…. tinatanggap hindi pa naman po talo ito,” she said. “We’re hoping hindi pa talaga. It’s not yet dead in the water.”
