Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Akbayan Partylist Reps Chel Diokno, Percival Cendaña, Dadah Kiram Ismula, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao wore peach ribbons during the opening of the 20th Congress to show their support for the continuation of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Party-list Reps. Leila de Lima and Chel Diokno were quick to push back against moves to penalize a House member for criticizing the Supreme Court ruling voiding impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the comments fall within free expression.</p><p>Lawyers earlier Wednesday filed separate petitions to have the SC cite Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, analyst Richard Heydarian and anti-poverty adviser Larry Gadon in indirect contempt for their comments on the ruling announced last Friday.</p><p>Diokno, a rights lawyer representing Akbayan party-list, said he stands with Cendaña and Heydarian, whom he said petitioners are trying to silence.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/30/cenda-a-gadon-heydarian-face-contempt-petition-over-comments-on-sc-s-duterte-impeachment-ruling-1428"><strong>Cendaña, Gadon, Heydarian face contempt petition over comments on SC&#x27;s Duterte impeachment ruling</strong></a></div><p>&quot;Malinaw sa ating Saligang Batas na may karapatan ang taumbayan na magpahayag ng opinyon sa mga isyung apektado ang interes ng publiko, kasama na riyan ang mga desisyon ng Korte,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Our Constitution is clear that citizens have the right to express opinions that have public interest, which includes court decisions)</p><p>De Lima, a former Commission on Human Rights chairperson and now a representative of Mamamayang Liberal, said Cendaña and Heydarian&#x27;s comments &quot;fall well within the bounds of free expression&quot; and are part of the democratic process.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ve seen tactics like this before. Legal processes are being used not to advance justice, but to intimidate critics and deflect attention from serious questions of public accountability,&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><p>&quot;The truth is, what’s being challenged here is not the dignity of the Court, but the discomfort that comes with public accountability. Public commentary is not contempt. It is conscience.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT PETITIONERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Lawyers Mark Kristopher Tolentino and Rolex Suplico cited Cendaña&#x27;s statement that the SC had &quot;reduced itself to being the Supreme Coddler of Vice President Sara Duterte&quot; and that its decision was &quot;a betrayal of the Constitution and an insult to the people’s right to demand accountability.&quot;</p><p>The lawyers called out Heydarian&#x27;s social media posts saying that former President Rodrigo Duterte — the Vice President’s father — &quot;had appointed as many as 13 out of 15 Supreme Court justices.&quot;</p><p>Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio was the petitioner in the complaint against Gadon, who had referred to the Supreme Court justices as lapdogs of Duterte.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CENDAÑA: WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WE TAKE A STAND</strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><p>Cendaña on Wednesday said he is unbothered by the petition against him, adding that if it is the price of pushing to hold Duterte accountable for alleged irregularities in the use of confidential funds, then he is &quot;at peace.&quot;</p><p>“Kung ito po ang halaga at bayad sa ating paninindigan para sa katotohanan at katarungan, kering-keri naman. Kasi sa dulo, ang mahalaga paninindigan para sa taumbayan,” he said. </p><p>(If this is the price of standing for truth and justice, I can handle it. In the end, what matters is to stand up for our people)</p><p>The Akbayan solon believes the petition is an attempt to silence Duterte’s critics. For Cendaña, to be such “target” is an “honor”, and proof that he is “doing the right thing”.</p><p>Cendaña endorsed the first impeachment complaint against Duterte in December and Akbayan has openly supported impeachment.</p><p>&quot;Ang mahalaga ngayon: matuloy ang impeachment complaint laban kay VP Sara Duterte. Katulad ng 80% ng mga Pilipino, naniniwala tayong dapat siyang managot sa kanyang pananagutan sa bayan,&quot; Diokno said in his statement.</p><p>(What is important now is for the impeachment complaint against VP Sara Duterte pushes through. Like 80% of Filipinos, I believe she should face her accountability to the people)</p><div><strong>— Jonathan de Santos, Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Z-BEEqYtTY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Lawyers earlier Wednesday filed petitions to have the Supreme Court cite Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, analyst Richard Heydarian and anti-poverty adviser Larry Gadon in indirect contempt for their comments on the ruling on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case.</p>

Lawyers earlier Wednesday filed petitions to have the Supreme Court cite Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, analyst Richard Heydarian and anti-poverty adviser Larry Gadon in indirect contempt for their comments on the ruling on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case.

De Lima, Diokno: Criticism of court decisions part of democracy

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De Lima, Diokno: Criticism of court decisions part of democracy

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 30, 2025 04:49 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 31, 2025 06:10 PM PHT

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Chel Diokno

Leila De Lima

Perci Cendaña

Supreme Court

House of Representatives

Sara Duterte

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