Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III
Senate President Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III on Thursday rejected a congressman’s call to remove Sen. Leila de Lima from office for allegedly preventing her former aide from testifying at a hearing in the House of Representatives.
“We have our own rules also in the Senate. Rule of law tayo,” Pimentel said during a press briefing in the Senate.
“But you know for a member of the House to tell the Senate to do something, ibalik ko siguro sa kanila, ibalik ko sa House, ‘do your thing first, before you ask us to do something,’” he said.
The Senate leader was reacting to Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque’s call for the Senate to unseat De Lima should the latter refuse to resign over allegations she had warned her former driver and bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan, against attending the House inquiry.
Dayan claimed that De Lima had told him through his daughter not to attend the House’s hearing on the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs at the New Bilbid Prison when the senator was still justice secretary.
Pimentel said the House should first conduct a “mini trial” and come up with a final determination on Dayan’s claim.
“Let’s not be too excited. Let the House do what they have to do, observe due process, proper procedure and then give the Senate the official result of their findings,” he said.
“We’re still in this situation, then how come there’s a member of Congress telling the Senate what to do when the House has not even heard the incident, has not even charged her with anything, has not even come up with a final finding or order?” Pimentel said.
“Very premature kaya let’s not be too excited about this,” he added.
Besides, he said, the Senate had its own rules and ethics committee tasked to investigate erring members of the chamber.
The Senate leader repeatedly cited the general principle that no one is above the law.
Asked if the drug allegations against De Lima were affecting the integrity of the Senate, Pimentel answered no.
“There are 24 senators, we have our own lives, we have our own actions. Some probably beat a red light or cross the no pedestrian crossing zones, kasalanan ba ng Senado ’yan?” he further said./rga
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