Vice President Sara Duterte will not participate in the House Committee on Justice hearing scheduled for April 29 regarding the impeachment complaints filed against her.
During a press conference on April 23, the Vice President’s legal defense team reaffirmed her standing decision to bypass the House panel’s proceedings.
Defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa clarified that the refusal to attend is a matter of legal consistency.
“Yes, that has always been our position. We must remain consistent with that position,” Poa stated.
The legal team, which includes Poa and Atty. Sheila Sison, argued that the House of Representatives lacks the constitutional mandate to act as a trier of facts in impeachment cases.
Sison emphasized that the Vice President is prepared to present her defense, but only before the Senate, which functions as the official impeachment court under Philippine law.
“Ang tamang venue, ang tamang panahon para sagutin at magbigay kami ng ebidensiya para sa Bise Presidente ay hindi sa Committee on Justice — ito ay before the impeachment court. Kailangan lang natin basahin ang Constitution, sino ba ang impeachment court? Ang Committee on Justice? Hindi. Ito ba ang House of Representatives? Hindi rin. So sino? According to the Constitution, ang impeachment court, if ever that will be constituted, ay ang Senado — the defense of the Vice President is ready to respond before the proper forum and during a fair trial,” Sison explained.
Beyond jurisdictional arguments, Poa noted that their absence is tied to a pending petition before the Supreme Court.
The Vice President’s camp is currently seeking a judicial order to halt the House proceedings, questioning the legality of the process itself.
“We filed a petition before the Supreme Court, and we have to be consistent with that position,” Poa added, suggesting that attending the hearings would contradict their active legal challenge.