(Eagle News) — Senator Leila De Lima was replaced as chair of the Senate committee on justice and human rights Monday night, after majority of the senators voted to declare as vacant the chairmanship and membership of the said committee.
There were 16 senators who voted “yes” to the motion of Senator Manny Pacquiao to declare the membership and chairmanship of the controversial senate committee vacant.
Four senators voted “no” while two more abstained.
It was senate majority leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III who moved to nominate senator Richard Gordon to chair the committee once chaired by De Lima.
There was none who opposed the nomination.
De Lima, who was interviewed in a television news program, GMA-7’s “24 Oras,” claimed that no less than President Duterte had something to do with the senate’s move to oust her from the committee chairmanship.
She claimed that this was the President’s way of getting back at her because of the testimonies of witness Edgar Matoto who had linked him in alleged extrajudicial killings in Davao City when he was still the city mayor.