Palace belittles De Lima’s ‘test case’ vs Duterte

Malacañang on Wednesday belittled Sen. Leila de Lima’s “test case” against President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I referred to (Department of Justice) Secretary Aguirre regarding this matter and he said that the issue would not prosper. Simply because the President enjoys immunity while in office,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters in a press briefing.

Abella said the presidential immunity could not be challenged.

On Tuesday, De Lima said she would file charges against President Rodrigo Duterte at the Supreme Court, which would test presidential immunity from suit.

READ: De Lima to file ‘test’ case vs Duterte’s immunity from suit

“I will also file a case against President Duterte,” she told reporters in an interview at the Senate on Tuesday,” she said.

Under the 1987 Constitution, Section 2 of Article 11 states that the president and other high-ranking government officials, including vice president and members of the Supreme Court, may be removed from office through impeachment. CDG