Luistro: 2028 bid shouldn’t sway House on Sara impeachment

House Justice Committee chairperson Gerville Luistro on Thursday expressed hope that her colleagues’ vote on the four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte will not be affected by her announcement to run for president in the 2028 elections.

The lawmaker made the remark a day after the Vice President declared her political plans, followed by the filing of a fourth impeachment complaint against her on Thursday evening.

Luistro said she hopes the development will not influence members of the justice committee, stressing that they must recognize their constitutional duty.

She said the issue is not about whether they like it or not, nor whether they are pro-administration or pro-Duterte.

The lawmaker noted that voting on the sufficiency of the impeachment complaints against Duterte is a constitutional duty of the members of the House justice committee, and ultimately all House members, “when we already approve or disapprove the committee report of the justice committee.”

House Deputy Speaker and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V agreed that House members have the constitutional mandate to examine the serious allegations against the Vice President.

“Let us be clear – running for President does not erase serious questions about asset disclosures and public funds. The timing speaks for itself,” he said.

Ortega added that unresolved issues surrounding confidential and intelligence funds, as well as allegations of incomplete Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, are governance concerns and not campaign talking points.

He said oversight is a constitutional duty and it cannot convert audit trails into campaign slogans, as the impeachment process exists precisely to examine these questions.

“The Constitution is not suspended because someone declares candidacy. If there is nothing to hide, transparency should not be feared,” Ortega added.

House Human Rights Committee chairperson and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., for his part, said the Vice President’s declaration of a presidential run is not a free pass and could burden her in the long run.

“Her announcement would open Pandora’s box. It places the burden on the Vice President to address questions raised against her, as the public weighs what kind of leadership and direction she offers,” Abante said.

Abante said it is up to the Vice President to explain the issues to the Filipino people.

The fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte was endorsed by Ortega and Abante. It was filed on Wednesday night and transmitted to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Thursday.

The latest complaint accuses the Vice President of alleged betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, among others.

The allegations center on the supposed misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and the Vice President’s alleged threat to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his immediate family during a livestreamed press briefing in November 2024.

Under House rules, the Speaker has 10 session days to include the impeachment complaints in the order of business for plenary action.

Once the House plenary refers the complaints to the House justice committee, an impeachment complaint is deemed initiated and the one-year ban on filing another impeachment complaint takes effect.

If the complaints are not calendared by the Speaker’s office within the 10-session-day period, an impeachment case is automatically deemed initiated and the one-year ban applies.

This is in line with the July 2025 and January 2026 Supreme Court decisions declaring the 2025 impeachment case filed by the House against the Vice President unconstitutional.