De Lima to Congress: Set aside personal interests amid Sara impeachment

Former senator Lelia de Lima on Wednesday challenged senators and lawmakers to prove they can set aside personal and political interests amid the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

"Sa pagsisimula ng impeachment process, hamon sa ating mga kinatawan sa Kongreso na patunayan na kaya nilang isantabi ang personal at pampulitikang interes upang ipaglaban ang tama," said De Lima, the spokesperson of the first group that filed an impeachment complaint against the Vice President.

(As the impeachment process begins, it is a challenge for our representatives in Congress to prove that they can set aside personal and political interests to fight for what is right.)

"Dapat patas at transparent ang proseso, at tunay na nagsusulong ng hustisya. Hindi puwedeng maging isang palabas lamang ito para pagtakpan ang katotohanan," she added.

(The process must be fair and transparent, and you must truly fight for justice. This should not be a mere show to cover up the truth.)

The first group that filed an impeachment complaint against the Vice President in December 2024 included representatives of civil society organizations, religious leaders, and families of victims of extrajudicial killings.

Among them were Teresita Quintos Deles, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Fr. Robert Reyes, Randy Delos Santos (uncle of Tokhang victim Kian Delos Santos), Francis Aquino Dee, Leah Navarro, Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Alicia Murphy, Sr. Mary Grace De Guzman, and former Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, among others.

There were 16 signatories in the complaint, which stemmed from Duterte’s alleged culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña endorsed the first complaint.

Earlier in the day, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte with 215 congressmen endorsing the verified complaint against her.

Shortly after, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco arrived at the Senate to personally transmit the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte. The Senate will serve as the impeachment court.

De Lima warned that the machineries of people in power may move to stop the impeachment process against the vice president.

"Bantayan natin ang prosesong ito na napakahalaga para maitayo ang mga prinsipyo na nakalahad dyan sa ating Saligang Batas... Hindi dito nagtatapos ang ating laban; simula pa lang ito," she said.

(Let's monitor this process, which is important in establishing the principles outlined in our Constitution. Our fight doesn't end here; this is just the beginning.)

De Lima also stressed that the impeachment is not a personal attack against Duterte nor is it due to politics. She said this was a fight of the Filipino people against the abuse and disregard of the Constitution.

The impeachment complaint largely stemmed from the House of Representatives' inquiry into the use of confidential funds by the Department of Education (DepEd) and Office of the Vice President (OVP) under Duterte's leadership.

"Maliwanag ang mga paratang laban kay VP Duterte--ang mabilis na paglustay ng milyun-milyong confidential funds nang walang maayos na paliwanag, ang paggamit ng posisyon para sa pansariling interes, at ang lantad na pagtatangkang sirain ang mga prosesong nagsisiguro ng pananagutan sa gobyerno," she said.

(The allegations against VP Duterte are clear—the rapid spending of millions in confidential funds without proper explanation, the use of position for personal interests, and the attempt to undermine processes that ensure government accountability.) — VDV/NB, GMA Integrated News