HOUSE Committee on Justice chair Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas on Saturday said being part of the political opposition is not a valid basis to block the Senate from convening as an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
Luistro, a lawyer, issued the statement after Sen. Robin Padilla said the Senate minority bloc would oppose convening the impeachment court if the House transmits the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte for trial, arguing that opposing such moves was the role of the political opposition.
“We respect Senator Robin Padilla. But in the absence of reason, of basis why the impeachment court should not be convened, I think it will be very difficult to understand why they will move not to convene. Dapat ilatag muna nila ano bang dahilan,” Luistro said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
The House plenary is expected to tackle the committee report and Articles of Impeachment against Duterte on Monday after the Committee on Justice unanimously found probable cause and later unanimously approved the impeachment report for floor deliberations.
The impeachment 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.
Luistro stressed that even the Supreme Court (SC) has not stopped the impeachment proceedings despite several petitions challenging the process before the House.
“Kung ang Supreme Court nga to this date they’re not issuing TRO (temporary restraining order), they’re not issuing an injunction,” she said.
Luistro said she found it difficult to understand arguments that senators should oppose the impeachment trial solely because they belong to the opposition.
“Because his (Padilla) reason na just because they are opposition, they will be going against convening the impeachment court or going against the impeachment. That’s very difficult to understand,” Luistro said.
“This is a political exercise. What is at stake is the best interest of the sovereign Filipino people,” Luistro said.
She later clarified that while she respects Padilla, any move to stop the impeachment court should be anchored on legal or constitutional grounds rather than political alignment.
“I respect Senator Robin but his statement is quite difficult to understand,” Luistro said.
“In the absence of reason or basis, why we should not proceed to convening the impeachment court?” Luistro asked.
