The House Committee on Justice has extended an open invitation to members of the Duterte family serving in the House of Representatives to participate in the upcoming plenary debates regarding the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Representative Gerville Luistro, chairperson of the justice panel, clarified during a media forum over the weekend that the three Dutertes currently in the chamber—Davao City Representatives Paolo Duterte and Omar Vincent Duterte, and PPP Party-list Representative Harold Duterte—are welcome to defend the Vice President on the floor.
“Well, there will be debate after the sponsorship speech. And I think everybody will be given the opportunity to participate in the debate,” Luistro said.
The Batangas lawmaker emphasized that while her role is strictly to defend the committee’s finding of probable cause, all members of the House have the right to explain their positions or interpellate the committee report.
“This is actually a privilege which is given to the House members, but of course, kino-consider din, ilan ba ang gustong mag-explain ng kanilang position about the impeachment. Perhaps if they wish to participate, it’s better to participate in the interpellations so that the Filipino people will hear their arguments, which the Justice Committee will definitely respond,” she added.
Luistro maintained that the final decision on whether the Articles of Impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate lies with the collective judgment of the 318-member chamber.
“In other words, my focus only is to defend the findings of probable cause of the Justice Committee. As to who will be voting to affirm the same, we’re leaving that up to the exclusive judgment of the members of the House of Representatives,” Luistro explained.
The House is scheduled to vote on the measure following the sponsorship speech and subsequent debates.
A minimum of 106 votes—one-third of the total membership—is required to successfully impeach the Vice President and elevate the case to the Senate for trial.