HOUSE Committee on Justice chair Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas commended over the weekend members of her panel for what she described as their “correct appreciation” of the evidence and arguments supporting the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
“Napakahusay po ng mga taga-Justice committee. They really have the correct, accurate appreciation of the case, including the evidence in support of the different Articles of Impeachment,” Luistro said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
Luistro made the remarks ahead of the expected House plenary deliberations on the committee report and Articles of Impeachment against Duterte, which the justice panel unanimously approved after weeks of hearings.
The report contains findings involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
The Justice committee earlier voted unanimously in finding probable cause and later unanimously approved the committee report and resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment for floor deliberations.
Luistro stressed that regardless of the outcome of the upcoming plenary vote, she considers the work of the justice panel a success.
“Regardless of what will happen in the plenary vote, I can honestly say that I am very much thankful to all the justice members for the job well done,” she said.
Luistro also emphasized that as chair of the panel, she did not vote on the issues taken up during the proceedings and instead closely observed how members evaluated the evidence and arguments presented before them.
“I do commend them for their appreciation of everything we resolved before the Justice committee,” she said.
Luistro noted that the panel voted multiple times throughout the proceedings, including on the form and substance of the complaints, the grounds for impeachment, and the determination of probable cause.
“Ang daming beses nilang bumoto. One is on the form, next is on substance, third is on the ground, and fourth is on probable cause,” she said.
“And I really commend how they appreciated both the arguments and the evidence which guided them in voting on these four important questions before the justice committee,” Luistro said.
