THE House Committee on Justice on Wednesday declared the third and fourth impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte sufficient in grounds, formally moving the proceedings into the next stage and setting initial formal hearing dates beginning March 25, April 14, 22, and 29, 2026.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, panel chair Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas confirmed the approval of motions covering both complaints, with no objections raised by members.
“I move to declare that the third impeachment complaint has sufficient ground or grounds to conduct a hearing by this committee,” said House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo.
Luistro then put the motion to the body: “There is an amended motion to declare the third impeachment complaint, the Zaballa et al. impeachment complaint sufficient in grounds. Do I hear a second? Is there any objection?”
“Hearing none, the motion is approved. The chair declares the third impeachment complaint sufficient on the ground,” Luistro said.
A similar motion was later made for the fourth complaint.
“I move to declare and approve the sufficiency of grounds for impeachment of the fourth impeachment complaint, the Cabrera complaint,” said Deputy Speaker Janette L. Garin of Iloilo.
Luistro again sought the sense of the committee before ruling: “There is a motion to declare and approve the sufficiency in grounds of the fourth impeachment complaint, that is Cabrera impeachment complaint. Do I hear a second? The same thing has been seconded. Is there any objection?”
With no objection raised, Luistro declared: “The fourth impeachment complaint is declared sufficient in grounds.”
Luistro then marked the end of the committee’s third step in the impeachment process.
“At this point, Hon. Members of the Justice Committee, we declare the conclusion of the determination of sufficiency in grounds,” she said.
After clearing both complaints, the panel moves forward to the hearing proper, where they will present evidence and witnesses to determine probable cause.
“Now, we proceed to Step 4, which is the hearing proper,” Luistro said, noting that “the evidence and witnesses which will be presented by both parties during the hearing proper will be part of our consideration in the determination of probable cause in our Step 5.”
The committee set the initial hearing schedule on March 25, April 14, April 22 and April 29, 2026.
“These are the initial dates for our proper hearing,” Luistro announced.
She also placed on record that the panel has received authority from the House plenary to continue its work even during the congressional recess from March 21 to May 3.
“This is the authority that was given by the plenary, the House of Representatives, to the Justice Committee to be able to conduct hearings during our break,” she said.
The authorization also covers the implementation of protective measures for complainants and witnesses, as provided under Section 8 of the Rules of Procedure in impeachment proceedings.
In addition, the committee acknowledged receipt of a March 5 letter from lawyer Chel Diokno requesting the issuance of subpoena duces tecum for pertinent documents.
The impeachment proceedings now move into a more substantive phase, with the scheduled hearings expected to lay out evidence and testimonies central to the panel’s determination of probable cause.
