De Lima to boost prosecution in Sara Duterte impeachment trial – solon
MANILA, Philippines — Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Representative-elect Leila de Lima’s inclusion in the House prosecution panel for the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will not pose any conflict and instead strengthen the case, according to Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong.
“There is no conflict because based on the rules state that one must be a member of the House of Representatives. Congresswoman Leila De Lima will be a member of the House of Representatives in the 20th Congress,” Adiong said on Sunday.
He added that the lower chamber may also seek the help of external legal experts, especially those who appeared as members of the prosecution during the 2012 impeachment trial of then- Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Adiong also said De Lima would be able to help prosecute impeachment charges related to the former administration’s brutal drug war.
“We would not deny that. Isa sa mga Articles of Impeachment ay ‘yung EJK (exrtrajudicial killings). And I guess the background of Congresswoman-elect De Lima, as far as the issue on EJK is concerned, that is her expertise,” the lawmaker said.
Adiong was pertaining to Article 5 of the impeachment complaint, which accuses the vice president of committing high crimes, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The article is supported by testimonial evidence from Arturo Lascañas,a self-confessed hitman of the Davao Death Squad (DDS).
