The House Committee on Justice on Monday, May 4, approved by a 55-0 vote the Committee Report and accompanying resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, following its finding of probable cause.
Justice Chair Rep. Gerville Luistro said lawmakers had already established sufficient basis to support probable cause in the impeachment complaint, citing testimony and documentary evidence presented across three impeachment proceedings.
Following this, the approved committee report and the attached articles of impeachment are expected to be sent to the plenary, which will vote to decide whether to approve or endorse the impeachment.
If at least one-third of all House members (around 105 of 315) vote in favor, the impeachment is set to be transmitted to the Senate for trial.
In her opening statement during the committee meeting, Luistro stressed that the panel’s decision was anchored on evidence and not speculation, adding that the hearings and deliberations conducted were already adequate to support the findings.
The committee also rejected proposals from some members to extend the hearings, with Luistro arguing that further proceedings were no longer necessary for individuals who had repeatedly failed to attend earlier sessions. She said continued absences should not be rewarded with additional opportunities.
Luistro cited the manifestation of Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña, who compared the situation to “not giving makeup classes to someone who is always cutting class,” referring to the vice president’s repeated absence in previous impeachment clarification hearings as well as the Monday session.
“Sa kabila ng lahat ng diskusyon natin, may isang bagay na hindi nagbago. Ang upuan, ang bakantaeng upuan. Sa bawat ebidensya walang direktang sagot, sa bawat tanong walan paliwanag,” Luistro said.
Luistro also urged the public not to allow the country to become accustomed to a “culture of forgetting,” emphasizing the importance of accountability in public service.
“If the Vice President is guilty, let the truth convict her. If she is innocent, let the process clear her,” she added.
The committee on Apirl 29 reached a unanimous 53-0 vote finding probable cause to impeach Duterte on charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
