De Lima: Rumors abound that VP Sara’s impeach trial won’t proceed, but it must

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'To abandon the process is to abandon the people who still believe in the promise of justice. It tells every Filipino that those in power are beyond reach, and that accountability is optional,' Congresswoman-elect Leila de Lima says

MANILA, Philippines – Congresswoman-elect Leila de Lima of party-list group ML acknowledged on Thursday, May 29, rumors that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte may not push through, but insisted that lawmakers should not scrap the process.

She issued the statement hours after Senate President Chiz Escudero wrote to Speaker Martin Romualdez, informing the latter that the reading of the articles of impeachment originally set on June 2 had been moved to June 11 to allow the Senate to “to tackle priority measures” before it adjourns on June 13.

“There are whispers that the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte isn’t moving forward. Some say it’s dead on arrival. Lacking the votes, they say. Over before it even begins,” De Lima said in a video statement.

“To abandon the process is to abandon the people who still believe in the promise of justice. It tells every Filipino that those in power are beyond reach, and that accountability is optional,” she added. “Let the case be heard. Let the evidence be tested. Let truth rise, as it must, as it will.”

De Lima and her political ally, Congressman-elect Chel Diokno of party-list group Akbayan, have been tapped by Speaker Romualdez to join the House prosecution panel, replacing two lawmakers who lost their reelection bids in the 2025 midterm elections.

The impeachment process is considered more political than legal, and the powers-that-be may come up with legal justifications either to push through or abandon the process.

There have been questions on whether the articles of impeachment approved by the 19th Congress can be carried over to the 20th Congress.

One school of thought says it doesn’t, and due to the lack of time, the complaint must be refiled after a new Congress convenes in July. In that scenario, the 19th Congress would have failed to finish the process, so Duterte would get a constitutional one-year immunity from impeachment.

Another school of thought — which House lawmakers subscribe to — says impeachment proceedings are not part of the legislative functions of Congress, and therefore articles of impeachment do not expire unlike unfinished bills that need to be refiled in the succeeding Congress.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte in February, essentially an indictment for alleged betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. – Rappler.com