Former senator Leila de Lima said Monday evening that it is the right time to file an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte despite President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. discouraging the ouster move.

The civilian-drafted impeachment complaint was endorsed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, which was filed by civil society organizations and families of "tokhang" victims.

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"Sa pananaw ng group of complainants, this is the time. This is the right time. Kailan pa? Ano pa ba ang hihintayin natin? Hihintayin pa ba 'yung next elections," De Lima said in TeleRadyo Serbisyo's Johnson Ikwento Mo.

"Ang pinakatanong dito is do we deserve such kind of a vice president? Hanggang kailan pa natin titiisin 'yung kaniyang mga asal. 'Yung mga pinapakita sa atin at sa mundo  na hindi karapat-dapat? Na ngayon lang ito nangyari na mayroong ganyang very high  official na ganiyan ang asta. Feeling untouchable, mas mataas siya sa batas, kayang-kaya niya to make any kind of threats and any kind of mga tantrums na verging on a criminal behavior," she added.

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Among the complainants were Teresita Quintos Deles, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, SVD, Fr. Robert Reyes, Randy Delos Santos (uncle of Tokhang victim Kian Delos Santos), Francis Aquino Dee, among others. 

De Lima is the group's spokesperson.

She also said despite the president's discouragement in impeaching Duterte, the civilian group deemed that it is a way to show the public that no one is above the law.

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"Naniniwala kami na ito ang paraan para maipakita talaga sa taumbayan na walang sino man ang pwedeng mangibabaw, maging mas mataas sa mga batas, mas mataas sa ating Konstitusyon, mas mataas sa mga suliranin ng pagpapanagot," she said.

"We cannot be held hostage dyan sa uncertainty, dyan sa ambivalence, dyan sa ambiguity ng liderato. Kasi purely initiative ito ng mga private citizens," she added.

The lawmaker also denied that her role as the group's spokesperson is a way for her to seek revenge against the Dutertes after she was imprisoned during former president Duterte's administration.

"Wala akong balak maghiganti. Wala 'yan sa karakter ko. Siguro inaano nila 'yung tungkol sa mga kaso ko. Dati ko naman na sinasabi na may balak din 'yung mga abogado ko na magsampa ng mga kaso against Mr. Duterte and sa kaniyang mga enablers and sa kaniyang mga inutusan noon para i-fabricate 'yung mga kaso against me," De Lima said.

"I've been clarifying that it's not for any vengeful purposes but actually in the name or for the sake of justice because I'm seeking justice also for the injustice that was done to me. Dito sa impeachment, bakit ko 'yun gagamitin for vengeful purposes? I just feel that this group of complainants deserve my support kasi tama 'yung ginagawa nila na panagutin 'yung vice president," she added.

De Lima: Sara Duterte's threats could lead to impeachment, disbarment, criminal cases