HOUSE Committee on Justice Chair Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas on Friday night said Vice President Sara Z. Duterte may present evidence at any stage of the House impeachment proceedings, stressing that due process is being observed by the justice panel.
Even as the petitions question the constitutionality of the proceedings, Luistro maintained that the justice panel is following the Constitution, law, and Supreme Court rulings and ensuring that the respondent is given full opportunity to be heard.
“As far as we are concerned, we are giving full due process, including the opportunity to present evidence to counter the impeachment complaint and its supporting evidence,” Luistro said in an interview on Bilyonaryo’s On Point with Pinky Webb.
Luistro said the issues raised in the complaints have been pending for some time and that the public expects answers.
“I think it’s quite lamenting kasi ang tagal na nito. All the issues started in 2024… For a couple of times already, I believe that the Filipino people are expecting answers from the Vice President,” Luistro said.
Luistro said Duterte may present her evidence at any time during the proceedings.
“We manifested that at any point in time of the impeachment proceeding, the Vice President is welcome to present her evidence to counter the impeachment complaint, including its attachments,” Luistro said.
“So we intend to do this in all the hearings of this impeachment complaint, that includes this coming April 14, 22, and 29,” Luistro said.
Luistro, chair of the House Committee on Justice, said the panel has anticipated legal challenges, including the latest petitions filed before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to stop the proceedings.
“Well, we are not surprised, kasi may petitions. Of course, we have to anticipate that sooner or later, the Supreme Court will be acting on these petitions of the petitioners,” Luistro said.
She added that the House will comply with the high court’s directive to comment on the petitions, with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) representing the chamber.
“We are required to file our comment to the consolidated petitions, basically questioning the constitutionality of the proceeding. As to your question, as to whether we will comply, of course we will comply,” Luistro said.
Luistro noted that despite this, the Vice President’s camp has continued to raise constitutional issues instead of directly addressing the allegations.
“Instead of replying or answering to the accusations in the impeachment complaint, they raised issues of constitutionality,” Luistro said.
She added that the legal strategy mirrors earlier moves that focused on procedural arguments.
“In the first impeachment complaint back in the 19th Congress, they focus on technicalities and it appears now that they are still banking on the technical rules instead of giving importance to the substantive right of the sovereign Filipino people to avail of this accountability mechanism,” Luistro said.
She maintained that the House remains guided by the Constitution and SC rulings as it proceeds with the impeachment process.
“But of course, for us in the Justice Committee, let me express that we are maintaining our position that we follow the rules, the Constitution, and the decisions of the Supreme Court,” Luistro said.
