Metro Manila, Philippines – The formal hearing of the House of Representatives on the impeachment suits against Vice President Sara Duterte, dubbed by the justice panel chairperson as a “mini trial,” will begin on March 25, after the committee declared the complaints sufficient in grounds.
On Wednesday, March 18, panel members declared that there was sufficient grounds for the third and fourth complaints after reviewing the reply of Duterte submitted on March 16.
Batangas 2nd district Rep. Jinky Luistro, committee chairperson, set the hearings for March 25, April 14, April 22, and April 29.
The House earlier adopted a resolution, authorizing the panel to conduct hearings during the congressional recess from March 21 to May 3.
The hearing will determine whether there is probable cause to proceed to impeachment.
In a press briefing, Luistro said the complainants, witnesses, and respondent will be given the notice to attend the scheduled hearing.
She said while it is the prerogative of Duterte to attend or not, she is the only one who can raise her defense under the rules.
“In addition also, the rule is very clear that only the justice members are allowed to conduct direct examination and cross-examination, which means that while the parties may avail themselves of the services of lawyers, the participation of lawyers with respect to the proceeding before the justice committee is limited only to assisting their clients,” she said.
Luistro said Duterte will have the opportunity to respond and present her side to each complaint, after petitioners present their evidence.
Duterte is facing two ouster suits for supposed culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes, over allegations of fund misuse, threats against the presidential family, and unexplained wealth.
Michael Poa, Duterte’s defense spokesperson,said “there is no requirement under the applicable rules for her personal attendance.”
“Any decision in that regard will be made in accordance with her rights and upon the advice of counsel,” he said when asked for comment.
What happens on March 25
Luistro said expected to be discussed on the first day of hearing was the request of securing Ramil Madriaga, Duterte’s alleged bagman, who is detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig city.
Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno earlier requested protective custody for Madriaga, who he said may be a key witness in the case.
Raymund Palad, Madriaga’s legal counsel, previously said his client’s life was being threatened inside the detention facility.
Diokno also included motions for the committee to produce records of Duterte’s statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth from 2007 to 2013, 2013 to 2016, and 2022 to 2025 – or from the first time she held public office.
“We opted to defer the deliberation on this request and petition because this should be part of the hearing proper,” Luistro said.
She added that the committee may also determine the length of the proceedings after conducting the first hearing on March 25.
Under the Constitution, the justice panel has 60 session days to resolve the complaints upon referral to the committee.
Possible challenges
Meanwhile, justice committee members maintained that impeachment proceedings will continue even when possible challenges to the process may arise, including a scenario of Duterte resigning from office.
“Bagaman [while] the resignation will render moot and academic the penalty of removal, I think the penalty of perpetual disqualifications need to be resolved as well. And for us to be able to resolve that, it means that the impeachment proceedings must continue until the trial to the Senate,” said Luistro.
In 2011, the impeachment case of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was archived by the Senate after she resigned from her post.
Asked on the possibility of Duterte challenging the legality of the proceedings to the Supreme Court, lawmakers said this lies solely on the vice president’s prerogative.
“For as long as there is no temporary restraining order on the impeachment proceedings, the justice committee will fulfil its mandate to prosecute this up to the very end,” Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, panel member said.
In February 2025, more than 200 lawmakers impeached Duterte over the same grounds, which Duterte challenged in the Supreme Court (SC).
The SC declared the case unconstitutional over procedural errors, but not on merits.
