HOUSE Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chair Joel Chua on Tuesday said the Verified Answer filed by Vice President Sara Z. Duterte fails to confront the serious allegations in the impeachment complaints, and instead appears designed to prevent the evidence from being examined in the proper forum.
Chua, a member of the House Committee on Justice, said the Filipino people deserve clear answers—not procedural maneuvers.
“The Filipino people deserve the truth. What we see in the Verified Answer is not a direct response to the allegations, but an attempt to avoid a full discussion of the evidence,” Chua said.
Chua noted that instead of addressing the substance of the charges, the pleading relies heavily on technical arguments to seek the early dismissal of the case.
“That is not the purpose of an Answer under the impeachment rules. An Answer should meet the allegations head-on. It should not be used to shut down the process before the evidence is even heard,” Chua stressed.
Chua said recent developments, including the surfacing of individuals and documentary materials that may be subject to scrutiny, make it even more important for the process to proceed.
“As more information comes to light, including potential witnesses and financial records that may be examined under oath, it becomes even clearer why a full Senate impeachment trial is necessary,” Chua said.
Chua underscored that the purpose of impeachment is to expose such matters.
“If there is nothing to hide, there should be no fear of evidence. The Senate trial is where both sides can present their case, where witnesses can be examined, and where the truth can be established,” Chua added.
The House leader reiterated that the House Committee on Justice is not determining guilt or innocence, but only whether the case should proceed to trial.
“Our role is to determine sufficiency. The Senate is where the evidence is tested. Attempts to stop the process at this stage only raise more questions,” Chua said.
“Transparency strengthens institutions. Evasion weakens them. The Filipino people deserve a full, fair, and public accounting of the truth,” Chua added.
