ONE NATION UNDER GOD: DE LIMA: time to revisit

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MANILA - Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday said she believes it is time to rethink the Constitutional provision on presidential immunity, adding that there might be "extreme situations" wherein the president may have to be prosecuted.</div>
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In a press conference after the Senate hearing on drug-related killings, De Lima brought up the issue of presidential immunity, saying it may be time for the country to revisit the doctrine.</div>
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"It's time to revisit that doctrine. Hypothetical lang po ito, 'wag ho akong ma-misunderstood, 'wag po silang magalit sa akin, it's just an academic discussion. Paano nga kung merong nae-elect, nahahalal na pangulo na mass murderer pala, serial killer, rapist, etc.," she said.</div>
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"Hindi naman siguro, again this is hypothetical, hindi ko po tinutukoy dito si President Duterte, hindi naman siguro tama na dahil sa presidential immunity, ay kung merong ganon, halimbawa, mapatunayan, na ang isang pangulo ay ganoon, may criminal mind, but because of that doctrine, ay hindi siya makakasuhan. It's just an academic discussion. Shall we rethink or revisit?" De Lima added.</div>
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According to De Lima, presidential immunity from suit was designed to protect the incumbent president from harrasment, but it can also hinder prosecution in case a president has been named as having committed crimes such as murder. </div>
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"Kasi what is the very rationale of the immunity from suit of a sitting president? Para hindi siya nadi-distract sa trabaho niya lalo na kung may mga harassment suits, and then madi-distract siya, how can he perform effectively his role, his mandate," she said.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5;">"Pero kung meron nga tayong extreme situation, 'yung example ko kanina, then what is the remedy of the people? De Lima also said.</span></div>
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De Lima also clarified that she is not insinuating anything, but just brought up the topic for discussion.</div>
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She added that she has no other agenda but to let people know what witness Edgar Matobato knows.</div>
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"Wala naman akong iminumungkahi na palitan natin siya, i-impeach natin siya, ang pinaka-agenda lang po dito, since dumulog na sa akin ang testigo na yan at gusto na niyang magsalita, isiwalat 'yung alam niya, I feel the people deserve to know kung ano ang alam niya. Wala na po tayong ibang tinitingnan na agenda diyan," De Lima explained.</div>
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During the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee inquiry, Matobato accused the former Davao City mayor of ordering the killing of suspected criminals and some innocent civilians in Davao City. </div>
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He also claimed that Duterte ordered his team to kill De Lima at the time when she was still the chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights.</div>
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Malacanang has denied Matobato's allegations.</div>
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SOURCE: <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/09/15/16/de-lima-its-time-to-revisit-presidential-immunity" target="_blank">ABS-CBN</a></div>

MANILA - Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday said she believes it is time to rethink the Constitutional provision on presidential immunity,...