Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, chairperson of the House Committee on Justice, underscored on Tuesday, April 14, that the House of Representatives holds the “exclusive power” to initiate and direct impeachment proceedings.
Speaking at the committee hearing on the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, Luistro emphasized the chamber’s constitutional role.
“We (House of Representatives) have exclusive power to impeach. At ang ibig sabihin ng exclusive ay malinaw,” she said.
She added that the process begins and is steered by the House:
“Sa KAMARA, nagsisimula ang impeachment process. Sa atin ang unang galaw, sa atin ang direksyon. At gaya ng sabi ng mga kabataan, hawak natin ang beat, hawak natin ang beat. At sa kapangyarihan ito, pananagutan sa taumbayan ang dapat manaig.”
Luistro clarified that the House proceedings are not a “fishing expedition” and do not encroach on the Senate’s authority to determine guilt or innocence in an impeachment trial.
“Hindi ito fishing expedition. Hindi ito ‘Bahala na si Batman’. Hindi tayo nangangapa. Alam natin ang hinahanap natin—kung may probable cause ba o wala. At malinaw sa atin na hindi natin inaagaw ang kapangyarihan ng Senado na magpasya kung guilty o not guilty ang opisyal,” she said.
She further stressed that the House is guided not only by legal and technical considerations but also by the principles of public trust and accountability in handling impeachment cases.