Incoming Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has expressed concern over the Ombudsman's sudden pursuit of Vice President Sara Duterte's cases, as this could preempt hed Senate impeachment trial.

“There’s really room and there’s reason for concern. Especially on the part of prosecutors, sa (the) impeachment prosecutors,” De Lima, a former senator, said in a radio interview Saturday, June 21.

De Lima warned that if the Ombudsman were to dismiss the Vice President's case before the Senate begins its trial, then the move could influence the perception of the evidence that will be presented by the House prosecutors.

That the anti-graft body is headed by Samuel Martires--an appointee of former president Rodrigo Duterte--is not lost on De Lima. Martires is set to retire this July.

The Ombudsman had ordered Vice President Duterte--the ex-president's daughter--to respond to the criminal charges involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

De Lima pointed out how the sudden action of the Ombudsman was allegedly inconsistent with its previous handling of cases involving allies of the Duterte administration.

“So, that’s out of character actually if you can say so na ang bilis niyang umaksyon para pasagutin kaagad si VP Sara. And we have to take note na malapit na kasi siyang mag-retire. Come July, magre-retire na,” she said.

(So, that’s actually out of character, if you think about how quickly he acted to have VP Sara respond immediately. And we have to take note that he’s about to retire. Come July, he’ll be retiring.)

“Hindi mawawala sa atin na magduda, magsuspetya na baka nga ang balak ay baka aaksyunan niya kaagad pag nakuha na, na-submit na yung counter-affidavit at hindi malayo ‘yung i-didismiss,” noted De Lima.

(It’s only natural for us to harbor doubts or suspicions that perhaps the plan is to act on it right away once the counter-affidavit is received and submitted, and it’s not far-fetched that it could get dismissed.)

De Lima, who is part of the House prosecution panel, explained that such a dismissal might be used by the defense team to weaken the prosecution’s case.

“Kapag i-dismiss yan, necessarily that would have an effect on the impeachment case doon sa trial. Ganoon lang, babanggitin ng defense counsel eh (If it gets dismissed, necessarily that would have an affect om the impeachment case during the trial. That’s all it takes, the defense counsel will mention it).

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability investigating the alleged misuse of confidential funds by Vice President Duterte recommended the filing of multiple criminal charges against the lady official in its committee report. It was adopted by the House before the sine die adjournment of the 19th Congress.

These charges include plunder, technical malversation, falsification of public douments, bribery and corruption. The Office of the Ombudsman acted on this recommendation and recently ordered the Vice President and other implicated officials to respond through counter-affidavits.