MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on justice pushed back against criticism from Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp after its chair, Gerville Luistro, described impeachment proceedings as a “mini trial.”
Luistro clarified that the phrase was not meant to redefine the constitutional process but to make the hearings easier for the public to follow.
She maintained that she does not regret using the term, emphasizing that the House’s role remains limited to determining probable cause.
Duterte’s lawyers declined to attend the hearing, arguing in a formal letter that the terminology suggested the panel intended to conduct a trial—an authority reserved exclusively for the Senate.
The Constitution mandates that the House evaluate complaints and decide whether they warrant escalation, while the Senate serves as the impeachment court.
During the session, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon criticized the vice president’s camp, saying their reasoning was merely a tactic to sidestep the proceedings.
Luistro likened the hearing process to a fact-finding stage, where lawmakers ask questions to clarify issues and determine whether sufficient evidence exists.
She stressed that without such exchanges, the committee would be unable to fulfill its duty of assessing probable cause.
Currently, two impeachment complaints remain active before the panel. Earlier filings were either dismissed due to procedural rules or withdrawn by complainants.
If the committee finds merit in the complaints, the case will advance to the Senate, where a full trial will take place. A guilty verdict would remove Duterte from office and bar her from future government service.
The allegations outlined in the complaints include corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and the questionable use of hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds.
ia/xf
