The House Committee on Justice clarified on Monday, April 20, that the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte are not intended to embarrass her.
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, chairperson of the committee, addressed the “public shaming narrative” that emerged after testimony from Ramil Madriaga, the Vice President’s alleged “bagman,” who submitted a supplemental affidavit during the April 14 hearing.
“Sa lahat po rin sambayang Pilipino, ito pong aming ginagawang ito ay hindi pagpapahiya sa ating VP. Ito po’y bahagi ng impeachment process,” Luistro said in a radio interview.
Luistro explained that the committee’s primary responsibility is to determine if there is sufficient evidence to move forward with the two active impeachment complaints filed against Duterte.
“Kami po ay may trabahong i-determine kung may sapat na dahilan upang umusad ang impeachment process. Kaya kailangan po namin mag-conduct ng clarificatory hearing,” she noted.
She emphasized that the panel is authorized to use compulsory processes, such as issuing subpoenas for documents and testimony, to fulfill its mandate.
The impeachment process follows a defined legal trajectory:
- Determination of Probable Cause: If sufficient evidence is found, the matter moves to the House plenary for debate.
- House Plenary Vote: If the plenary agrees, the Vice President is impeached and articles of impeachment are transmitted to the Senate for trial.
- Recommendation for Dismissal: If evidence is insufficient, the committee recommends dismissal to the plenary.
“Kung i-affirm po nila ang dismissal eh ‘di final na po iyon. At kung i-reverse naman po nila kami, ibig sabihin mata-transmit pa rin po ito sa Senate for trial,” Luistro explained.
She underscored that impeachment is a vital accountability mechanism in a democracy.
“Ito po yung tinatawag nating accountability mechanism which is innate in a democratic form of government,” she said, citing the principle of a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
This proceeding follows a previous attempt in 2025, when the House impeached Duterte, but the case was dismissed by the Supreme Court on a technicality before reaching a Senate trial.