HOUSE Committee on Justice Chair Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas on Monday pushed back against claims that the House impeachment hearings are meant to embarrass Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, saying the proceedings are part of an accountability mechanism designed to determine whether there is probable cause to move the complaint forward.
“Definitely that is not the intention. Klarong-klaro ito sa Rules na we are mandated to determine the existence of probable cause. In doing so, we are authorized to conduct this hearing proper/clarificatory hearing and in doing so as well we are authorized to exercise this compulsory process such as the issuance of subpoena duces tecum and subpoena ad testificandum,” Luistro, a lawyer, said in a dzMM interview Monday.
“Sa lahat po rin sambayang Pilipino, ito pong aming ginagawang ito ay hindi pagpapahiya sa ating VP. Ito po’y bahagi ng impeachment process. Kami po ay may trabahong i-determine kung may sapat na dahilan upang umusad ang impeachment process. Kaya kailangan po namin mag-conduct ng clarificatory hearing,” she added.
Luistro made clear that the committee is not conducting a full trial inside the House panel, but is instead making the threshold determination required under the rules before lawmakers decide whether the complaint deserves to advance to the next stage.
“We need to see if the allegations in the complaint and the attached evidence are sufficient already to constitute probable cause. Kung may probable cause po, ididiretso po natin ito sa plenaryo kung saan pagdedebatehan at kung sasangayunan po ng plenaryo ang desisyon ng Justice Committee, ito po’y itratransmit sa Senado para magkaroon ng trial,” she stated.
She also pointed out that the process includes a built-in off-ramp if the committee finds the evidence wanting, with the panel able to dismiss the complaint at its level and elevate that recommendation to the House plenary for final action.
“Otherwise, kung sa paningin ng Justice members ay walang sapat na dahilan, eh sa Justice Committee pa lamang i-dismiss na po ito. At ito pong dismissal na ito ay aming i-rerecommend sa plenaryo upang kanilang pag-aralan kung tama o hindi ang naging pasya namin and whatever will be the decision of the plenary,” Luistro said.
“Kung i-affirm po nila ang dismissal eh ‘di final na po iyon. At kung i-reverse naman po nila kami, ibig sabihin mata-transmit pa rin po ito sa Senate for trial,” she added.
Luistro said impeachment is one of the constitutional checks available to the public against impeachable officials who may have committed offenses serious enough to justify removal and disqualification from public office.
“Ito po yung tinatawag nating accountability mechanism which is innate in a democratic form of government. Ang very famous na sabihin about democratic form of government is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. At ito po ang kapangyarihan ng taumbayan to check on this impeachable official if they committed impeachable offenses and if so, may kapangyarihan ang taong bayan tanggalin at ipagbawal ang patuloy na pagtanggap ng posisyon sa gobyerno,” Luistro said.
