“Now the Senate, as an impeachment court, has just lit the Constitution aflame. All the proceedings and motions taken in the so-called impeachment court are without legal basis. Where on earth does a judge move to dismiss the complaint, and without hearing the parties first?”

This was Representative-elect Leila De Lima’s statement after the Senate Impeachment Court remanded the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives on late Tuesday, June 10.

“Harap-harapan na tayong niloloko. Kakaibang korte ito. Korte ng kababalaghan,” she exclaimed.

According to De Lima, the nation had just “witnessed proceedings without boundaries, while the Constitution, the law, and the rules burn.” She added how the decision deviated from its true purpose without care for either constitutionality or propriety.

The Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte were filed last February and awaited the Senate to reconvene as an impeachment court.

Despite this, De Lima stated that Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero had already discarded the constitution by refusing to understand the word “forthwith.”

“Where is it in the rules of impeachment that a Senator Judge can move for dismissal? Where is it written that an impeachment court can remand the complaint to the House as a nice way of dismissing it?” she questioned.

“Malinaw na walang due process. Sila-sila lang sa Senado ang nag-motion at nag-rule sa sarili nilang motion,” she exclaimed.

With that, De Lima praised Senators Risa Hontiveros, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, Maria Lourdes “Nancy” Binay, Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, and Grace Poe for standing up for the constitution.

“Shame on the rest for this travesty and ignominy, which will mark them for the rest of their lives,” she expressed.