Cheyenne Suarez

De Lima apologizes to Supreme Court for remark on impeachment ruling

Article (news)

Dennis Gasgonia

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Congresswoman Leila de Lima on Saturday issued an apology to the Supreme Court for her reaction to its decision on Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment case, saying it was based on wrong information.</p><p>The Mamamayang Liberal representative on Friday criticized the Court&#x27;s decision to strike down Duterte’s impeachment, saying it had not given the House an opportunity to comment on the petitions.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/26/vp-duterte-lawyers-on-wait-and-see-mode-after-sc-rules-impeachment-unconstitutional-0839"><strong>VP Duterte lawyers on ‘wait and see’ mode after SC rules impeachment unconstitutional</strong></a></div><p>&quot;I regret and most humbly apologize to the Supreme Court for characterizing the impeachment decision as ex-parte (from one party),&quot; De Lima said a day later.</p><p>&quot;That portion of my statement saying the House was not given an opportunity to comment on the impeachment petitions was grossly ill-advised as it was based on patently wrong information,&quot; she said.</p><p>She said she did not mean &quot;to falsely accuse the Supreme Court of not considering the side of the respondent House of Representatives.&quot;</p><p>De Lima said she later found out that the House&#x27;s comments in the two impeachment petitions were indeed considered by the Court.</p><p> &quot;There is no excuse for this mistake and I bear full responsibility for the same,&quot; she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/26/sc-ruling-on-vp-sara-impeachment-lets-officials-skirt-accountability-activist-groups-1111"><strong>SC ruling on VP Sara impeachment lets officials skirt accountability — activist groups<br/></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CAYETANO CALLS FOR PRAYERS</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano called for prayers and respect after the Supreme Court announced its ruling.</p><p>“Lord, turuan Niyo kami, how do we be on your side? Ano ba Lord ang tama?”</p><p>(Lord, teach us how to be on your side. What is right, Lord?) </p><p>Cayetano said he had been surprised and disappointed at &quot;credible lawyers&quot; and commentators who he said had argued that the SC has no right to issue a ruling on the constitutionality of the impeachment case</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/25/what-lawmakers-said-on-sc-s-decision-to-block-sara-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-1909"><strong>Sara Duterte&#x27;s camp says SC ruling on impeachment &#x27;upheld the rule of law&#x27;</strong></a> </div><p>He said that while the legislature conducts impeachment proceedings, the SC&#x27;s mandate is to interpret the law and the Constitution, including the rules on impeachment.</p><p>“Kung may question kung tama y’ung proseso, kung tama y’ung charges, kung may jurisdiction, et cetera, ‘yan po ay sa SC talaga,” he said.</p><p>(If there are questions on whether the process or the charges were correct, if there are questions on jurisdiction, etcetera, that really is for the SC)</p>

<p>Congresswoman Leila de Lima on Saturday has issued an apology to the Supreme Court over her reaction to the High Court's decision on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case.</p>

Congresswoman Leila de Lima on Saturday has issued an apology to the Supreme Court over her reaction to the High Court's decision on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case.