De Lima: Conviction on 1 in 4 impeach articles enough to oust VP Sara

By Zaldy De Layola, Philippine News Agency

Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Philippine News Agency/facebook)

MANILA – The impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte has been condensed into four articles that still cover all the grounds raised against her, with even one conviction before the Senate enough to remove her from office and permanently disqualify her from public office, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said Monday.

In a media interview, de Lima, a member of the House Committee on Justice, explained the structure of the committee report and the resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment after the panel approved the documents for plenary action.

De Lima said one substantive correction was added to the unexplained wealth article involving Duterte’s alleged failure to divest her interest in a private company.

“Meron pong company na nakita natin sa mga SEC records, yung Metro Chow company or corporation na nandun pa rin siya (There is a company that we found in the Securities and Exchange Commission records showing that she is still with the Metro Chow company or corporation) as shareholder and also as member of the board of directors,” she said.

She said the alleged business participation was included under the article on unexplained wealth because it raised a constitutional issue.

“So, paglalabag po iyan sa ating Constitution kaya pinapasok ko po iyon as a subheading doon sa Article 2 (So, it’s a violation of our Constitution and I entered that as a subheading in Article 2),” she said.

The former senator said there were four Articles of Impeachment approved as amended: misuse or abuse of confidential funds; unexplained wealth; bribery and graft and corruption; and threats involving an alleged plot against the President, the First Lady and the former House Speaker.

These four articles, according to de Lima, will first be sent to the plenary and, if approved there, will be transmitted to the Senate as the same articles.

Asked why the committee settled on four articles instead of six or seven, de Lima said similar grounds were consolidated to make the case clearer and more coherent.

She said a conviction on even one article would be enough to remove Duterte and permanently disqualify her from holding public office.

“Pag makarating na po ito sa Senado at magkaroon na po ng trial at during the judgment ng mga judges of the impeachment court kahit isa lang pong article ang ma-uphold nila at ma-convict si (If it reaches the Senate and a trial is held, and during judgment of the judges of the impeachment court, even if they uphold only one article and convicts) VP Sara, that should be enough to really convict her and then to remove her from office and to permanently disqualify her to hold further public office,” de Lima stressed.

De Lima expressed confidence in the strength of the case, citing the evidence and the unanimous committee vote.

“Well, secure na secure po kasi (it’s very secure because it’s) supported by evidence, supported by facts and circumstances,” she said.

“And we believe, kaya nga po ganyan ang resulta ng botohan unanimous vote of 55 of all the members present. Ibig sabihin malakas talaga ‘yung kaso, malakas yung mga articles of impeachment (that’s why the result of the voting was a unanimous vote of 55 of all the members present. It means the articles of impeachment are really strong),” she added.