Justice panel sets 2–4 March talks on VP Sara impeachment

House Committee on Justice Chair Gerville R. Luistro of Batangas said Tuesday that deliberations on the four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte are scheduled from 2 to 4 March, initially focusing on determining their sufficiency in form and substance.

“The four impeachment complaints against the Vice President was referred to the Justice Committee. We are considering to start the deliberation of the Justice Committee on March 2, March 3, and March 4. That is Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, at least for the purpose of determining sufficiency, in form, and substance,” Luistro said.

“So initially, I wish to advance that we are inclined to continue the hearing even during recess,” she said. “Kung dadating tayo sa puntong iyon about the recess, yes, we will continue our deliberation even during the recess of the House.”

“Kung matapos on 2 March, yung sufficiency in form. So that’s it, we will be moving to sufficiency in substance on the subsequent day. Pero kung hindi siya matapos, we can continue the deliberation on the succeeding day.”

Luistro said the panel could not begin deliberations this week as it needed time to reproduce the complaints and distribute copies to all committee members.

“Of course, we cannot start this week as much as we wanted to take action right away sapagkat the Justice Committee need to reproduce the complaints and provide copies to all the members of the Justice Committee,” she said.

She clarified that while the four complaints would be taken up in a single impeachment proceeding, they would not be physically consolidated at the outset.

“For clarity, kaya sinasabi nating consolidation is because we will be deliberating on the four impeachment complaints in one impeachment proceeding. But as to the physical consolidation, that will happen only after we have determined the existence of probable cause,” Luistro explained.

Luistro outlined a five-step process, beginning with the determination of sufficiency in form and sufficiency in substance.

“We will be determining sufficiency in form and substance on the entirety of the impeachment complaint. Ang deliberation natin gagawin natin per impeachment complaint. We will also tackle per ground, pero pag bumoto tayo, our vote will be based on the entirety of the impeachment complaint,” she said.

If the complaints pass both standards, the respondent will be given 10 calendar days to file an answer. The complainant may reply within three days, and the respondent may file a rejoinder within another three days.

The committee will then proceed to a hearing proper before voting on probable cause, Luistro said.

She acknowledged that proceedings could take longer than previous impeachment deliberations against the President, citing the number of complaints and possible grounds involved.

“They might be correct kasi four impeachment complaints ito, compared doon kay Presidente which are only two impeachment complaints, just De Jesus and the Maza et al. This one is four. On that ground, I would agree na mas magiging mahaba ang deliberation,” Luistro said.

“So kung may limang ground ang isang complaint, we will be asking the justice members to make their comment and manifestation per ground. So if there are five grounds for four impeachment complaints, this will be a total of 20 grounds na pag-uusapan,” she added.

She noted that some grounds may overlap.

“Although, I wish to advance as well that there are grounds which were repeated or same grounds which were raised in the other impeachment complaints,” Luistro said.

Ultimately, she said, the duration of the proceedings will depend on whether the complaints pass the threshold tests.

“Ultimately kung mahaba o hindi ang proceeding nito, it will depend first kung papasa siya sa standard ng form and substance. Kung papasa siya sa standard ng form and substance, then possibly mahaba ang magiging procedure,” Luistro said.

Luistro also underscored the committee’s intent to avoid delays if the complaints move to the next stage.

“Again, because this is a very important process, this is an extraordinary power that was given to the sovereign Filipino people to impeach high-ranking public official. We do not want to delay impeachment proceedings,” she said.