Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima reminded Vice President Sara Duterte and Filipinos in general that the latter has already been impeached before by the House of Representatives.

This, after Vice President Duterte described as "devoid of evidence" the impeachment complaint against her that was endorsed by De Lima and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña.

"Yung sinasabi ni VP Sara na 'isang papel na walang kalakip na kahit anong ebidensiya' ay siya rin mismong mga akusasyon na matagal na nyang iniiwasang sagutin (What VP Sara calls ‘a piece of paper without any evidence attached’ are the very same accusations she has long avoided answering)," De Lima said on Saturday, Feb. 7.

"Alalahanin natin na na-impeach na siya dati ng House based on essentially and primarily the same substantial grounds na nakalagay sa complaint na inendorso namin ni Rep. Perci Candaña," noted the former senator.

(Let us remember that she was already impeached once by the House based essentially and primarily on the same substantial grounds contained in the complaint endorsed by myself and Rep. Perci Candaña.)

De Lima was referring to the 2025 impeachment complaint sought by the House of Representatives against Vice President Duterte. The particular complaint was adopted in plenary and sent directly to the Senate via the so-called "fast-track" mode.

"Kaya nga lang, napawalang bisa ng Korte Suprema yung articles of impeachment dahil sa teknikalidad (However, it was nullified by the Supreme Court on a technicality)," noted the House deputy minority leader.

"If it were not for a technicality, she should have been tried in the Senate," De Lima underscored.

According to her, the evidence for the impeachment of the Vice President this year is not just strong, but growing.

"We are confident that it is sufficient in form and substance to move forward to evidentiary hearings in the House Committee on Justice and to be transmitted to the Senate for trial?" The party-list solon said.

De Lima said that the onus is on Duterte to refute the allegations cited in the impeachment complaint.

"At sa paglilitis, hindi pwedeng ang sagot nya ay patutsada o 'pamomolitika' lang. Patunayan niyang walang basehan ang mga alegasyon, dahil kung hindi, dapat siyang managot sa mga akusasyon ng paglustay sa pera ng taumbayan,' De Lima said.

(And during trial, her response cannot simply be barbs or 'politicizing' claims. She must prove that the allegations have no basis, because if she cannot, then she must be held accountable for the accusations of misusing the people’s money.)