The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday ordered Sen. Leila de Lima and the Office of the Solicitor General to submit their respective memoranda on the issue of whether President Rodrigo Duterte is immune from suit. De Lima on Monday asked the Supreme Court to issue a writ of habeas data against Duterte. The senator said her petition was a “test case” and the “first in a series of legal offensives” against Duterte, whom she accused of linking her to illegal drug trade and engaging in illicit affairs. The 1987 Constitution does not provide specific provisions on the immunity from suit of an incumbent President. However, the bases for the immunity are found in the jurisprudence of the Philippines under Article 8 of the Civil Code which is deemed part of the law of the land.

Source: Manila Times November 08, 2016 16:30 UTC