HOUSE leaders on Monday defended the legality of the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte after one of her allies questioned the validity of hearings conducted during the congressional recess.
The issue erupted on the House floor as lawmakers opened plenary deliberations on the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte, whose case now moves closer to a possible Senate trial.
Sagip Party-list Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta argued that the Constitution repeatedly referred to “session days” in setting the timetable for impeachment proceedings and questioned whether the House Committee on Justice could legally continue hearings while Congress was on recess.
Justice panel chair Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro pushed back by invoking House Resolution (HR) No. 892, which expressly authorized the committee to continue impeachment proceedings and exercise ancillary powers during the recess from March 21 to May 3, 2026.
“Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, for purposes of our records, I am reading from the House Resolution No. 892,” Luistro said during plenary deliberations.
She then read the title of the resolution authorizing the committee “to continue the conduct of impeachment proceedings and the exercise of ancillary powers during the recess of the House of Representatives from 21 March 2026 to 3 May 2026.”
“It is respectfully submitted, Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, that all the proceedings before the Justice Committee is within the ambit expressly provided by the House of Representatives in Resolution No. 892,” Luistro said.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo later reinforced the House leadership’s position, saying the proceedings complied with House rules and constitutional due process because Congress had not adjourned sine die.
“Mr. Speaker, just to further assure the Hon. Marcoleta that everything was done in accordance with our rules and with due process, we did not adjourn sine die,” Defensor said.
“We are still on our first regular session, that is why the plenary can authorize the committee to conduct their hearings if necessary,” he added.
The House Committee on Justice earlier voted unanimously, 53-0, in finding probable cause to impeach Duterte and later approved, 55-0, the committee report and resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment for plenary consideration.
Duterte faces allegations involving misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, graft and corruption, and threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
