Binay not immune from lawsuit – De Lima

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Monday the Department of Justice would press ahead with the investigation into the anomalies allegedly involving Vice President Jejomar Binay because he is not immune from suit.

“The principle of immunity from suit applies only to two entities—the State and the President,” De Lima explained to reporters.

De Lima drew criticism from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) for pursuing an investigation of Binay.

“No one can prevent us from doing an investigation because there is no such thing as immunity from investigation,” De Lima maintained.

Although the Vice President is one of the impeachable officials mentioned in the Constitution, she argued that “impeachability does not mean immunity.”

“Thus, among the impeachable officials, only the President is immune from suit. The vice president is an impeachable official but is not immune from suit. Cases can be filed against him but he can only be removed by impeachment,” she added.

The NBI investigation, De Lima said, will verify the veracity of the allegations against Binay.

Aside from the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2, Binay has been accused of owning hundreds of hectares of land in Batangas.

RELATED STORIES

Binay satisfaction rating plunges to record low—SWS

Binay to cooperate with De Lima probe

Binay denies owning Batangas hacienda