Senator Leila de Lima plans to run to the Supreme Court to challenge President Rodrigo Duterte’s immunity from suit since she has run out of options in her quest for justice regarding the allegations hurled against her.
Facing reporters at the Senate Tuesday (Oct. 11), De Lima said she will file “test cases” against Duterte, including writs of habeas data and amparo.
“I’m going to file a test case na may mga pagkakataon po na hindi pwede i-invoke ang presidential immunity from suit. Test case ito, kasama yan sa writ of amparo, at habeas data,” she said.
“Ito ang pagkakataon na ite-test natin ang doctrine of presidential immunity from suit. I don’t think na yung mga nakaisip ng doktrina na yan ng immunity from suit could have ever comprehended situation like this. There is blatant abuse of power,” the senator added.
De Lima said the cases against Duterte could be filed by next week.
The President enjoys immunity from suit for the duration of his term.
Aside from the cases she will file before the SC, De Lima said she also plans to press charges against Duterte before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The writs of amparo and habeas data are remedies available to a person for protection and access to information respectively.
De Lima said she thought of running to the Supreme Court because she believes she doesn’t stand a chance of getting a fair treatment at the Department of Justice and other agencies under the executive branch, particularly in light of the distribution of her alleged sex video.
“Kanino ako dudulog para aksyunan ‘yan? PNP ba, NBI ba, DOJ ba? Eh magkakakampi yan. Magkakakuntyaba yang mga yan sa paghahanap at pagfa-fabricate ng mga ebidensya laban sa akin,” she said.
De Lima has been accused by Duterte of involvement in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). A drug trafficking case has been filed against her by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.
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