The impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte moved closer to a Senate trial on Monday, May 11, after House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville Luistro formally sponsored Committee Report No. 261 before the plenary of the House of Representatives of the Philippines.

The report recommends that the articles of impeachment be transmitted to the Senate for trial, following the committee’s finding of probable cause.

In her sponsorship speech, Luistro stressed that the process is grounded in constitutional duty rather than political interest.

“Mr. Speaker, simple lamang ang hinihingi ng pagkakataong ito sa atin: Sundin natin ang Konstitusyon. Nothing more. Nothing less,” she said.

She emphasized that the proceedings are not meant to target any individual, but to uphold institutional accountability.

“Sa mga pagkakataong gaya nito sinusubok hindi lamang ang isang opisyal, kundi ang tibay ng ating mga institusyon, ang katapatan natin sa batas, at ang ating kakayahang unahin ang bayan kaysa sa pulitika,” Luistro said.

The House is expected to vote on four articles of impeachment against Vice President Duterte within the day, which will determine whether the case will be elevated to the Senate for trial.

During her speech, Luistro also cited financial transactions allegedly linked to Duterte and her spouse, Atty. Mans Carpio, referencing disclosures presented by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) during committee hearings.

She pointed to reported multi-billion-peso inflows and outflows in bank accounts over several years, stressing that public funds are at the center of scrutiny.

“Nakita rin natin ang ulat na nagpapakita ng bilyon-bilyong piso ng inflow at outflow sa mga bank account sa loob ng maraming taon...At habang pinag-uusapan natin ang bilyon-bilyong piso, alalahanin natin kung kaninong pera ito,” Luistro said.

“Pera ito ng mga Pilipinong araw-araw nagbabayad ng buwis habang umaasang tapat ang mga pinunong kanilang pinagkatiwalaan,” she added.

Luistro also defended the integrity of the committee process, noting that it complied with procedural requirements, including the one-year bar rule and open hearings.

“Hindi tayo naghanap ng shortcut. Naghanap tayo ng katotohanan,” she said, adding that proceedings were conducted openly and livestreamed for public transparency.

She further stated that the committee carefully evaluated the defense presented by Duterte’s camp, despite the Vice President’s absence from the hearings. After deliberations involving nearly two dozen resource persons and thousands of pages of records, the committee reportedly reached a unanimous finding of probable cause.

“Ang pagboto natin ngayon ay hindi lamang tungkol sa isang tao. Ito ay tungkol sa uri ng Republika na nais nating ipamana sa susunod na henerasyon,” Luistro said.

She urged the plenary to allow the process to continue in the Senate, where the evidence will be fully examined.

“Ang hinihiling lang naman natin ngayon at ipagpatuloy ang proseso. Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang Senado na dinggin ang buong katotohanan. Hayaan natin manaig ang ebidensya. Hayaan nating manaig ang proseso. Hayaan natin manaig ang Konstitusyon. Sa huli hayaan natin manaig ang Bayan,” she added.

Luistro also called on lawmakers to approve Committee Report No. 261 and House Resolution No. 989, framing the vote as a constitutional obligation rather than a political exercise.

“I respectfully urged this chamber to vote in favor of Committee report No. 261 and House resolution No. 989. Let us do our duty," she emphasized.

She noted that recent discussions had focused heavily on whether sufficient numbers exist to impeach Duterte, but stressed that the more important issue is adherence to due process and evidence-based deliberation.