‘No bloodbath, just accountability’: De Lima rebukes Sara

Representative-elect Leila de Lima, expected to be part of the House prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte’s upcoming impeachment trial, dismissed the latter’s remarks suggesting that the proceedings would descend into a “bloodbath.”

“In an impeachment trial, the only one who is on trial is the person impeached. So there can be no bloodbath,” De Lima said in a Facebook post Sunday. “If any blood is spilled, it can only be that of the person impeached, not the prosecutors', not the senators-judges', not the administration's, not the people's. We will make sure of that.”

De Lima’s response comes after Duterte said she preferred to face a trial — despite her legal counsel’s opposition — because she wanted to witness a "bloodbath."

“Their preparations for the impeachment are already in full throttle. And, of course, as lawyers, they would not want a trial… But I’ve also told them: I truly want a trial because I really want a bloodbath,” Duterte said, speaking partly in Filipino.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on 5 February. Her trial in the Senate is expected to begin in July, coinciding with the start of the 20th Congress.

De Lima, a known critic of former president Rodrigo Duterte, called the Vice President’s statement “mindless arrogance” and said it reflects a pattern of combative rhetoric common among members of the Duterte family.

She stressed that the impeachment trial is “not a show of brute force but a sacrosanct constitutional process of accountability,” rejecting any attempt to turn it into political theater. “Contempt awaits them if they even dare to,” De Lima warned.

De Lima, the first nominee of the Mamamayan Liberal (ML) Partylist, will be joined by incoming Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno in the 11-member prosecution panel. Both replace outgoing lawmakers who lost their re-election bids.

The Commission on Elections is expected to proclaim Akbayan and ML today, following their strong showing in the partylist race. Akbayan garnered 2.8 million votes (6.71%), while ML placed 14th with 541,134 votes (1.32%).

De Lima and Diokno confirmed that they were personally invited by House Speaker Martin Romualdez to join the prosecution team — a move Vice President Duterte dismissed, noting the two have been “very vocal anti-Duterte since birth.”

The articles of impeachment accuse Duterte of graft, bribery, betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and high crimes. The complaint includes her alleged plot to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Romualdez, as well as the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds during her time as Education Secretary.

Duterte has denied all accusations, labeling the impeachment a “well-funded” and “coordinated political attack” meant to derail her 2028 presidential bid.

The Senate impeachment court requires a two-thirds vote — at least 16 of 24 senators — to convict. If found guilty, Duterte will be permanently barred from holding public office.