MANILA – House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro on Tuesday said Vice President Sara Duterte’s team failed to seize an important opportunity to respond directly to impeachment allegations as the proceedings continue in the House of Representatives.
Luistro noted that the Vice President was given the chance to answer the complaints thoroughly, but her camp did not address each point in detail.
“We are providing the Vice President the opportunity to respond to the offenses and the grounds cited in the two impeachment complaints,” Luistro said during a press briefing.
“Unfortunately, it was a wasted chance. Addressing all alleged offenses and grounds would have given the Filipino people the clear answers they have been waiting for regarding these allegations,” she added.
The lawmaker from Batangas emphasized that the committee had already determined the complaints to be sufficient in earlier deliberations, highlighting that the process follows established rules and reflects the judgment of committee members.
Luistro said the panel would continue its work, including discussions on preliminary matters, as it prepares for the next stages of the impeachment process.
Responding to claims of double standards in impeachment cases involving President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Duterte, Luistro explained that the differences are based on whether personal participation—a crucial factor for establishing liability—was demonstrated.
“In the case of the President, complainants could not show personal participation, but in the Vice President’s case, the connection was evident,” she said.
The committee’s decision on the sufficiency of the complaints was supported by a 54-1 vote, which Luistro said reflected the independent judgment of its members.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union also criticized the Vice President’s response, saying it relied on technicalities instead of directly addressing the allegations.
“The Vice President continues to avoid the substance of the complaints. Instead of facing the charges, she chose procedural maneuvers,” Ortega said, referring to Duterte’s Consolidated Answer Ad Cautelam.
Ortega also rejected the claim that a Supreme Court ruling cleared Duterte, clarifying that the high court only addressed procedural matters, not the substance of the impeachment complaint.
“The Supreme Court decision did not absolve the Vice President. It only addressed procedural issues, which should be understood clearly,” he stressed.
He added that impeachment is a constitutional process designed to hold officials accountable and cannot be evaded through legal tactics.
“Filipinos deserve straightforward answers, not evasions. Accountability cannot be postponed or avoided,” Ortega said.
elamigo/xf
