At 10 a.m. Monday, the House Committee on Justice will convene to begin deliberations on four verified impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, formally initiating the constitutional process that will determine whether the cases advance to a Senate trial.
The hearings are scheduled on 2, 3 and 4 March at the People’s Center of the House of Representatives, according to a 24 Feb. notice issued by committee chair Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro.
The agenda is limited to the “initial consideration” of the complaints, specifically the determination of sufficiency in form and substance.
Luistro said the four complaints will be taken up in a single proceeding, with formal consolidation to follow later.
“As to the physical consolidation, that will happen only after we have determined the existence of probable cause,” she said.
Under House rules, the committee must first determine sufficiency in form, then sufficiency in substance.
If the complaints pass both standards, the panel will issue a notice to the Vice President to file an answer within 10 calendar days. The complainants will then have three days to reply, and the respondent will have three days to file a rejoinder.
If sufficient basis is found, the committee will proceed to hearings where complainants, witnesses and the Vice President may be invited.
The panel will then vote on probable cause, which requires a majority vote of all committee members.
If at least one-third of all House members approve the committee report in plenary, the Articles of Impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate for trial.
Luistro said the Vice President’s attendance at hearings is optional and part of due process.
“Her presence in the hearing is part of her right to due process. Kung hindi sya darating dun sa hearing, it will be interpreted merely as her waiver of her right to be present during the hearing,” she said.
The Vice President “will definitely be invited,” she added, but appearing remains “her prerogative.”
Luistro said the committee will apply the same procedures and standards used in previous impeachment proceedings against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., whose two impeachment complaints were dismissed by the panel for insufficiency in substance.
“Kung anong procedure, kung anong parameter ang ginamit natin sa impeachment against the President, we will be adopting the same with respect to our impeachment process against the Vice President,” she said.
The committee is required to complete its work within 60 session days. Luistro said hearings may continue even during recess if necessary.
Filed separately by civil society leaders, progressive groups, clergy and members of the legal community, the complaints cite betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery and other high crimes under Article XI, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution.
The first complaint, endorsed by the Makabayan bloc and signed by civil society leaders including former lawmakers France Castro and Neri Colmenares, alleges betrayal of public trust over Duterte’s use of P612.5 million in confidential funds, submission of allegedly fabricated reports to the Commission on Audit and refusal to recognize congressional oversight inquiries.
The second complaint, led by Tindig Pilipinas co-convener Kiko Aquino Dee and endorsed by Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, contains five articles of impeachment.
Duterte was accused of constitutional violations, graft and corruption, bribery and unexplained wealth, gross incompetence and abuse of power, and tolerating extrajudicial killings while allegedly aiding destabilization efforts against the government.
The third complaint, filed by priests, nuns and lawyers and likewise endorsed by De Lima, raises similar allegations over the alleged misuse of about P612 million in confidential funds and claims of corruption within the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as secretary.
It also revives accusations that she threatened to assassinate President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
Lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera filed the fourth complaint, endorsed by Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V and Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., centering on alleged omissions in Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and claims of unexplained wealth disproportionate to lawful income.