THE House Committee on Justice is strictly adhering to a rules-based and evidence-driven process in tackling the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, and is prepared should her camp elevate the matter to the Supreme Court (SC), Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said Sunday.
Ridon, chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts and a member of the Justice panel, stressed that every step taken by the panel is anchored on evidence and law.
“Rules-based, evidence-based ang bawat hakbang ng Komite. Lahat ng ruling ay nakaangkla sa ebidensya at sa umiiral na batas,” Ridon said.
“And if the matter is brought before the Supreme Court, handa po ang Komite na ipagtanggol ang proseso nang maayos, patas, at naaayon sa Konstitusyon,” he added.
The justice panel is currently proceeding with hearings on the remaining two impeachment complaints against Duterte that were found sufficient in form, substance and grounds.
Ridon rejected claims from the vice president’s camp that the allegations are merely “legal conclusions” or speculation.
“But we have to be very clear—everything that has been discussed previously is not based on speculation, these are based on evidence,” he said.
He mentioned reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) and earlier meetings, including past hearings by the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability or the House Blue Ribbon Committee, which revealed issues with the supposed misuse of confidential funds.
“Hindi ho totoo na all of these are based on conjecture,” he insisted.
Ridon also pointed to concrete bases of the complaints, including Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), alleged unexplained wealth, and COA findings.
“The existence of a SALN is a fact. Hindi pwedeng sabihing walang facts,” Ridon said.
He noted that from 2007 to 2024, the vice president’s estimated cumulative salary was only around P30 million to P40 million, leaving a gap that needs to be explained in relation to her reported net worth of about P88 million in 2025.
The committee, according to Ridon, will subpoena business, tax, and professional records to ascertain the explainability of the assets.
He stated that COA reports, which include a disallowance of at least P70 million, support the allegations regarding confidential funds.
“Hindi ho ito haka-haka. These are official audit findings,” he said, noting that confidential funds cannot be used for non-confidential activities such as team building.
At the same time, Ridon assured that due process is strictly observed throughout the proceedings.
“Sa usapin ng due process, maingat ho talaga tayo,” he said, adding that Duterte has been given opportunities to respond and may present evidence at every stage.
“I think it would be inaccurate to say that just because she will not appear, the determination of probable cause is already done,” he added.
The House Committee on Justice will continue its hearings to determine probable cause in the impeachment complaints against Vice President Duterte.
