The House Committee on Justice on Tuesday cited four petitions filed before the Supreme Court seeking to stop the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, even as lawmakers pressed ahead with the second hearing into the complaint.
During the hearing, Rep. Atty. Gerville Luistro disclosed that various groups and individuals had asked the high court to stop the impeachment process, raising primarily legal and procedural issues.
“We recognize that there are petitions now pending before the honorable Supreme Court intended to stop these proceedings,” a lawmaker said during the session. “Yes, there are petitions in the honorable Supreme Court.”
Luistro said the first petition was filed by a group led by a lawyer of religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, who has publicly referred to himself as the “appointed son of God.”
A second petition was filed by Vice President Duterte herself, represented by multiple lawyers, while a third was submitted by several individuals, mostly lawyers, questioning the committee’s authority and the basis of the impeachment proceedings.
A fourth petition, submitted just recently, was reportedly filed by Carpio and other lawyers before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
In total, Luistro said four separate petitions are now pending that all seek to stop the impeachment hearings.
Despite these filings, Luistro stressed that the impeachment process must continue.
“Public office is a public trust, indeed easier said than done,” said Rep. Atty. Gerville Luistro, a member of the committee.
“Ngunit sa pagka-haba-haba ng apat na petition na ito, let me tell you, wala ni isa ang sumagot sa mga importanteng akusasyon laban sa bise presidente. Puro technicalities lang ang tinalakay, ang taumbayan ay naghahanap ng sagot, hindi ng papel.”
Luistro also noted that the petitions raised before the Supreme Court did not directly confront the substance of the impeachment complaint, which she said centers on accountability issues involving the Vice President.
The House Committee on Justice said it will take note of the legal developments but will proceed with its scheduled hearings unless restrained by the Supreme Court.
