“The Constitution does not get tired. The rule of law does not get tired. Accountability does not get tired.”

With that pointed rebuke, House Committee on Justice Chair Gerville Luistro pushed back against claims of so-called “impeachment fatigue” as lawmakers began proceedings on the complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Luistro delivered the remarks at the opening of the committee’s hearings, stressing that impeachment is neither a political trend nor a popularity contest but a constitutional mandate that lawmakers are duty-bound to carry out.

“It is not subject to fatigue. It is a duty, and constitutional duties do not expire simply because public discourse grows weary,” she said.

Her statement comes amid online debates and public commentary suggesting that repeated impeachment efforts have led to exhaustion among the electorate. 

Luistro acknowledged that while public weariness may be understandable, it cannot justify inaction by Congress.

If an impeachment complaint is filed and properly referred to the committee, she said, lawmakers have no discretion to ignore it.

“There is no option to set it aside because the environment is noisy or because some sectors are tired,” she added.

No absolution on the merits

Luistro also addressed confusion surrounding the Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling that voided previously approved articles of impeachment against Duterte. 

She clarified that the decision was based on the constitutional one-year bar rule and did not tackle the substance of the allegations.

“The ruling was not an acquittal. It did not absolve the vice president of any charge,” she said, underscoring that the current proceedings must be evaluated independently and on their merits.

‘Not a social media contest’

Amid what she described as the prevalence of misinformation and online attacks, Luistro emphasized that impeachment is a formal constitutional process governed by rules of evidence and procedure.

“So let me say this clearly: Impeachment is a constitutional process, not a social media contest. Hindi hashtag ang magpapasya dito,” she said.

She warned that halting proceedings due to political noise or online pressure would undermine accountability at the highest levels of government.

“There is no alternative forum, no parallel mechanism, no detour, no easy way out,” Luistro said. “If we refuse to properly examine the impeachment complaints before us, we are not preserving stability. We are weakening accountability.”

Under the 1987 Constitution, impeachment is the sole mechanism for holding the president, vice president, justices of the Supreme Court, members of constitutional commissions, and the ombudsman accountable for impeachable offenses.

Luistro said the Committee on Justice must perform its role “without shortcuts,” reiterating that adherence to constitutional duty — regardless of public sentiment — is essential to upholding the rule of law.