Leila de Lima Slams Sara Duterte Over “Bloodbath” Remark

Former senator Leila de Lima strongly criticized Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday for her controversial statement about wanting a “bloodbath” during her impending impeachment trial. De Lima, who was recently invited to join the panel of prosecutors, expressed alarm over what she called a “dangerous” and “irresponsible” remark.

In a Facebook post, de Lima called out Duterte’s use of violent language, emphasizing the solemnity of the impeachment process. “Dyan naman sila magaling eh: braggadocio, mindless arrogance, toxic rhetoric, violence,” she wrote, alluding to what she views as the Vice President’s tendency toward aggressive posturing.

De Lima clarified that an impeachment trial is not a battlefield but a constitutional mechanism for accountability. “In an impeachment trial, the only one who is on trial is the person impeached. So there can be no bloodbath,” she stressed. She added that if any blood is spilled, it would metaphorically be that of the impeached official, not that of the prosecutors, judges, or the public.

Currently poised to return to Congress as the first nominee of the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list, de Lima reiterated the importance of preserving the integrity of the trial. “VP Sara is always welcome to witness how her trial will be a serious affair where her rights are respected and the proceedings fair,” she wrote. “Devoid of the drama and chaos that she is asking her defense team to orchestrate.”

De Lima warned that attempts to disrupt the process will be met with consequences. “Contempt ang naghihintay sa kanila if they even dare to,” she added, referring to possible penalties for any theatrical tactics intended to derail the trial.

As political tensions rise, de Lima’s remarks underline a call for discipline and respect in the impeachment proceedings. With the nation’s attention on this high-profile case, she emphasized that the rule of law, not theatrics, must prevail.

Her response is the latest in a series of escalating statements between political figures as the impeachment of Vice President Duterte looms, signaling that the trial will be one of the most closely watched in recent Philippine history.