“Mahalaga ang pagdinig bukas.
Ito ay araw ng mga resibo.
Ito ay araw ng ebidensiya.
Ito ay araw ng katotohanan.”
With no temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court (SC), House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson Terry L. Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list on Monday declared “all systems go” for the continuation of impeachment proceedings before the House Committee on Justice, as key witnesses—including alleged Vice Presidential bagman Ramil L. Madriaga—prepare to testify.
Ridon, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines and a member of the House Committee on Justice, said the proceedings will move forward as scheduled and strictly in accordance with the Constitution, prevailing jurisprudence, and the House Rules on Impeachment.
He emphasized that the Committee is conducting a constitutional preliminary investigation, not a trial.
“Hindi pa ito trial. Tinitingnan pa lamang ng Kamara kung may sapat na basehan upang umusad ang impeachment sa Senado,” Ridon said.
The lawmaker stressed that the House is merely discharging its constitutional duty to determine whether sufficient grounds exist for impeachment.
“Hindi ito pulitika. Ito ay pagsunod sa mandato ng Konstitusyon upang alamin kung may sapat na basehan ang mga reklamong inihain laban sa Pangalawang Pangulo,” he said.
Ridon said the objective of the hearings is not to determine guilt, but to assess whether the evidence warrants elevation of the case to the Senate for trial.
“Ang tanong sa yugtong ito ay hindi pa kung guilty o not guilty ang Pangalawang Pangulo. Ang tanong ay kung may sapat bang basehan upang ituloy ang impeachment trial sa Senado,” he added.
Among those expected to appear before the Committee are Atty. Cynthia Viñas-Pantonal, notary public to the affidavit of Ramil Madriaga; House Legislative Archives personnel; Madriaga himself; Securities and Exchange Commission Chairperson Atty. Francis Edralin Lim; Philippine Statistics Authority Chief Claire Dennis S. Mapa; Commission on Audit, Office of the Ombudsman, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and National Bureau of Investigation officials; and other resource persons relevant to the inquiry.
Ridon underscored that witnesses appearing before the Committee are expected to present sworn testimony and documentary evidence, and that any challenge to their credibility must be tested during the hearing itself.
“Kung may isyu sa kredibilidad ng testigo, dito iyon dapat sinusubok—sa ilalim ng panunumpa, sa harap ng ebidensiya, at sa loob ng proseso,” Ridon said.
He reiterated that Vice President Duterte has been afforded full opportunity to participate and answer the allegations against her.
“May buong pagkakataon ang Pangalawang Pangulo na humarap, sumagot, at magpaliwanag. Nasa tamang forum na tayo upang marinig ang kanyang panig,” he said.
For Ridon, the significance of the hearings extends beyond the parties involved, as the public now expects clarity and accountability grounded in facts.
“Ang publiko ay naghihintay ng malinaw na sagot—batay sa resibo, batay sa ebidensiya, at batay sa katotohanan,” he said.
Ridon said the House will proceed fairly, methodically, and in accordance with law.
“Magtutuloy ang proseso. Susundin ang batas. Susundin ang mga patakaran. At hahayaan nating magsalita ang ebidensiya,” Ridon said.
