The House Committee on Justice is awaiting Vice President Sara Duterte to submit her answer to the two impeachment complaints deemed sufficient in form and substance, with the deadline set for Monday, March 16.
Terry Ridon, Bicol Saro Party-list representative and a member of the committee, said Duterte was given a non-extendable 10-day period beginning March 5 to respond to the complaints.
“Inaantay po ng House Committee on Justice iyun pong answer ng Pangalawang Pangulo. So I think she has until this weekend and until Monday to submit her answer to the House Committee on Justice,” Ridon said during a media forum in Quezon City.
If Duterte submits her answer, the complainants will have three days to file their reply. The Vice President will then be given another three days to submit a rejoinder.
“So aantayin po namin ‘yun at the end of office hours ng Lunes, and then we will have to decide kung ano po yung next step,” Ridon said.
He added that if Duterte fails to submit a response by the deadline, the process could be shortened.
“In the event po that she does not respond by Monday, the process will be shortened, abbreviated. So ibig sabihin po, I think as early as the final weeks of this month, pwede pong mag-proceed na po to a determination of sufficiency in grounds, and then we can proceed to ‘yung hearing proper na po.”
The committee has scheduled a hearing on March 18 to tackle preliminary matters, with another tentative session set on April 8.
Members will determine whether sufficient grounds exist to move the impeachment complaint forward. If the committee finds probable cause, the case may proceed to an impeachment trial in the Senate.
Regardless of the panel’s findings, the House plenary will still vote on the complaint, and if at least one-third of members support it, the case will be transmitted to the Senate.