BATANGAS Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro on Thursday rejected allegations by Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte that members of the House Committee on Justice were being pressured to back the impeachment of his sister, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
In a television interview, the Justice panel chair said no such attempts reached her office and maintained the proceedings were conducted independently.
“In as far as I am concerned I beg to disagree with that. Wala po akong na-encounter na tumatawag na sinuman maging sa akin o sa aking chief of staff concerning the support to this impeachment process,” Luistro, a lawyer, told Unang Hirit morning program over GMA 7.
She said the panel did not take sides and acted strictly within its constitutional role, likening the proceedings to a preliminary investigation focused on evidence.
“And I wish to add that in my capacity as chair, we cannot stand for either party. We stood for the process,” Luistro said.
“During the clarificatory hearing of the Justice Committee, impartial tayo, independent tayo because we acted as investigators in a proceeding akin to a preliminary investigation,” she said.
Luistro said the committee’s task was clear, which is to determine whether probable cause exists based on the record.
“The mandate is very simple: to determine whether or not probable cause exists,” she said.
The remarks came amid mounting rhetoric from Duterte allies that staff of some lawmakers were being contacted to influence positions on the impeachment.
Last Wednesday, the committee found probable cause to impeach the Vice President on two complaints, with 53 lawmakers backing each in separate unanimous votes, sending the case to plenary.
Voting on the Saballa and Cabrera complaints, the panel approved both without objection after weeks of hearings on the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, unexplained wealth, and threats against top officials.
“After the voting yesterday (Wednesday) nanalo na ang probable cause, as a matter of fact it was a unanimous vote. Now I can officially say that the Justice Committee has a stand, and the stand is for the probable cause,” Luistro said.
She said the finding was based on the evidence presented, rejecting any suggestion that outside influence shaped the outcome
