REVISED STATEMENT OF LIBERAL PARTY SENATORS ON THE FILING OF CRIMINAL CASES VS SEN. DE LIMA BEFORE RTC

The Liberal Party condemns the patently illegal filing of criminal cases against Sen. Leila De Lima before the Regional Trial Court.

The Sandiganbayan, not the RTC, has jurisdiction over the case as the alleged wrongdoings were supposedly committed when she was Justice Secretary.

This filing before the RTC is clearly an attempt to undermine our court processes. It is an underhanded maneuver meant to go after critics, regardless of legal bases or processes. This purely political vendetta has no place in justice system that upholds the rule of law. This is condemnable.

We reiterate that an arrest based on trumped-up charges is illegal.

We appeal for total impartiality in the dispensation of justice. Senator De Lima has been pre-judged before any of the charges were filed as no less than the President vowed to destroy her in public and was sure De Lima would land in jail before any case was filed. Secretary Aguirre, being the alter ego of the President, should inhibit in any and all cases filed against Senator De Lima.

We assert that the Ombudsman has primary jurisdiction over cases against public officers cognizable by the Sandiganbayan. Violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which is the DOJ's case against Sen. De Lima, falls under "other offenses committed by public officials" listed in the Sandiganbayan Law.

We maintain that if this warrant of arrest is served, it would be a clear violation of legal proceedings and is therefore a violation of her Constitutional right to due process.