The early declaration of Vice President Sara Duterte that she intends to run in the 2028 presidential derby is “irrelevant” to members of the House of Representatives handling the four impeachment complaints against her, as it dismissed speculation that her political plans could influence lawmakers.

This was according to House Committee on Public Accounts Chairman and member of the House Committee on Justice Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list on Saturday, saying lawmakers are “laser-focused” on determining sufficiency in form and substance of the complaints, not on forward-looking political moves tied to the 2028 elections.

“Tingin ko irrelevant ‘yun pong deklarasyon ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa pagka-pangulo dito po sa disposition po ng House Committee on Justice and the House in general, sa impeachment po niya mismo,” Ridon said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

The solon issued the statement after House members from the National Unity Party (NUP) said they would likely exercise a conscience vote and wait for the evidence before making any judgment, prompting questions on whether Duterte’s early presidential announcement had shifted the political mood in the chamber.

The House Committee on Justice, chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, is set to begin on 2 March deliberations on four verified complaints accusing the vice president of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes.

Ridon said the justice panel’s initial task is limited to determining sufficiency in form and substance — the constitutional thresholds before proceedings can move forward.

“We will deliberate it, we will vote on it on those two points next week. At kung magtutuloy-tuloy po ito towards full proceedings after determination of substance, then we will see po at the end of Justice [committee] deliberation proceedings sa darating pong Miyerkules,” Ridon said.

The House leader also drew a sharp line between electoral plans and alleged past acts.

“The declaration of the Vice President relating to her presidency in 2028 is forward-looking. No question about it. Pero the impeachment proceeding deals with things that are being alleged that she had done previously. So, I think the committee will focus on that and the House will ultimately focus on that,” Ridon said.

In the same media forum, Fr. Joel Saballa, one of the complainants in the third impeachment complaint filed by religious groups, expressed confidence that their case will stand on its merits.

He said that in the previous Congress, their complaint had already been deemed sufficient in form and substance and was not rejected, and that what they refiled remains essentially the same.

“Kaya kung ang mga kongresista ay naniniwala doon sa iprinesent namin last year, hindi kami mahihirapan kumuha ng suporta o boto mula sa kanila kasi hindi naman ito politically motivated eh. Ito ay merong substance, merong form,” Saballa said.

He urged lawmakers to base their decision strictly on the merits of the complaint and not on political considerations.

“At naniniwala kami na sana ang mga kongresista ay mananatili na sasagot, boboto para doon sa substance and form at hindi doon sa political pressure at anumang klaseng external pressure na meron sa kanila. Sana wala naman,” he said.

The impeachment complaints against the Vice President center on the supposed misuse and liquidation of confidential and intelligence funds, alleged fabricated or insufficient documents, refusal to fully cooperate with congressional inquiries, and claims of alleged unexplained wealth and alleged omissions in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

Complainants argue that no sufficient explanation or direct answer has been given by the Vice President, prompting them to seek a constitutional determination by the House.