House Justice Committee Chairperson and Batangas 2nd District Representative Jinky Luistro on Monday said it is difficult to predict whether the House plenary will reverse the committee’s decision declaring two impeachment complaints against the President insufficient in substance, citing the differing judgments of lawmakers who are not members of the committee.
In an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Luistro said the near–supermajority vote in the Justice Committee to dismiss the complaints could serve as a “parameter” for what may happen in the plenary, but stressed that it is not definitive.
“I do not want to pre-empt what will happen in the plenary,” Luistro said. “The members of the Justice Committee were only 39, plus 15 ex-officio members. The House has more than 315 members, so it is hard to tell what the judgment of non-members will be.”
Luistro said the Justice Committee was still in the process of finalizing its committee report and resolution, with a continuation of hearings scheduled today, Monday at 10 a.m. The committee is set to vote on the report and resolution before transmitting them to the plenary.
She added that the timing of the item’s inclusion in the House order of business would depend on the Committee on Rules, and could happen as early as the same day or in the coming days.
During the interview, Luistro described as “unprecedented” the simultaneous filing of impeachment complaints against both the President and Vice President, saying it is the first time in Philippine history that both offices are facing impeachment processes at the same time.
“Unprecedented ito, historical. Sapagkat for the very first time, sabay na mayroong impeachment process laban sa Pangulo ng ating bansa and at the same time, laban sa pangalawang Pangulo ng ating bansa,” she said.
Addressing Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that the impeachment complaint against her lacks basis and evidence, Luistro underscored that recent Supreme Court rulings require evidence to be attached to impeachment complaints.
“As Justice Chairperson, I am inclined to believe that we should already observe those pronouncements,” Luistro said, noting that the Supreme Court’s decisions on impeachment procedures are specific and binding.
She acknowledged calls to update and clarify the House rules on impeachment to align them with Supreme Court jurisprudence, but said this falls under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Rules, not the Justice Committee.
Luistro said that while discussions on possible rule updates are ongoing, there is no official position yet from the Committee on Rules. In the meantime, she said the Justice Committee would exercise caution and adhere to existing Supreme Court rulings.
“This is our duty to the Filipino people,” the congresswoman said, stressing that the House must exercise caution in handling impeachment cases.
“Regardless of the opinions of legal luminaries, what ultimately stands as part of Philippine law and jurisprudence are the decisions of the Supreme Court.”
