Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong pushed back against Vice President Sara Duterte’s criticisms of the House Committee on Justice, stressing that the panel is strictly following the Supreme Court’s guidance in handling impeachment proceedings.
Adiong underscored that the committee is observing due process as outlined in the Court’s ruling, which struck down the first impeachment complaint in 2025 but also set procedures for future cases.
“In fact, if you remember when the Supreme Court came out with the decision, ‘di ba, ‘yung unang impeachment complaint, citing it as unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court also added some other procedures to the rules or procedures of the House of Representatives, meaning, sabi nga, nung nag-pen nito si Associate Justice [Marvic] Leonen, the House should be conscious about observing due process to be given to the respondent. And that is exactly what we are doing right now,” Adiong explained.
He noted that the committee’s hearings are designed to give both complainants and the respondent the opportunity to present evidence, allowing lawmakers to determine whether probable cause exists to elevate the case to the Senate for trial.
“This is in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling na kailangan tawagin sila during the preliminary inquiry to determine the grounds of the complaints under the Articles of Impeachment by the courts of impeachment,” Adiong said.
The lawmaker reminded that Duterte’s camp had previously welcomed the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the 2025 complaint.
“But now that we are doing exactly what the Supreme Court has said… sinasabi naman nila kangaroo court. I heard some of the defense mentioned a kangaroo court,” he added.
Adiong emphasized that constitutional mandates cannot be applied selectively, particularly when the House is required to adopt its own rules in line with the Court’s decision.
Vice President Duterte’s camp did not attend the Justice committee hearing held on March 25.