PARTIDO LIBERAL STATEMENT ON SC JURISDICTION DECISION

We regret the decision of the Supreme Court dismissing the petition of Senator Leila De Lima to transfer her case to the Office of the Ombudsman from the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court.

We understand that her camp will file a motion for reconsideration, and we trust that the magistrates will give the case a thorough second look and decide based on what is just and right.

The Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution states in Section 1 that “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

This is an incontrovertible right that must be afforded Sen. De Lima, who we believe is innocent and is simply a victim of political persecution.

The issue of jurisdiction is at the heart of the case because it involves the legal authority to pass judgment on a case. We cannot have the wrong court trying and handing the fate of a case.

Again, we express full faith that our Justices will be convinced that freeing Senator De Lima is the correct and just way forward.