Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte skipped the impeachment hearing on Wednesday, March 25, flagging lawmakers comments that the proceedings are a “mini trial.”
In a letter to the House justice committee, Duterte’s defense team said the vice president and her lawyers cannot participate as the House of Representatives ‘lacks jurisdiction’ on conducting a trial.
Panel chairperson Jinky Luistro, in a number of interviews, likened the House hearing to a “mini trial” in explaining the nature of the proceedings.
“We cannot, however, do so at this point on the ground that the committee and or the House of Representatives, as well as any of its members, lack jurisdiction to conduct any form of trial or exercise any of its incidents. Absent such jurisdiction, any attempt to proceed in the nature of any form of triumph or to invoke powers ancillary to it is unconstitutional,” the letter read.
In a press briefing, Michael Poa, the vice president’s spokesman, said any form of trial – whether it is “mini” or “full blown” – should only happen in the Senate sitting as the impeachment court.
He added that filing legal remedies to the Supreme Court remains a possibility as the proceedings are unconsittutional.
“Our objection to the proceedings is fundamental, hindi ito [it’s not] mere technicality,” he said.
Duterte, in a separate statement, also accused lawmakers of staging “another fishing expedition” against her.
“Ang imbitasyon na dumalo sa pagdinig ng committee on justice ay tila ginagamit upang makabuo ng isang media narrative na magkakaroon ng “mini-trial,” batay sa umano’y hindi ko pagsagot at hindi pagdalo,” she said.
[Translation: The invitation to attend the committee on justice hearing appears to be used to create a media narrative that there will be a “mini-trial,” based on my alleged failure to respond and failure to attend.]
Duterte also called on the committee to dismiss the complaints for their supposed lack of evidence.
Not a trial
During the hearing, Luistro clarified that the House is not holding a trial as it is a mere clarificatory hearing to determine probable cause.
“The use of a mini trial by some members of the justice committee is intended only to make distinction between the proceeding before the justice committee and the trial which will happen in the Senate,” she said.
“Again, we are not yet determining the guilt, we are not holding trial. This is just a clarificatory hearing for the purpose of determining probable cause,” Luistro added.
In a press briefing, she said the term was only used to make it more understandable to the public.
Luistro said she does not regret making the reference.
In 2025, Duterte’s camp challenged her first impeachment which the SC later declared unconstitutional – ruling on procedural grounds rather than on the merits. The Senate did not proceed to trial, in light of the SC ruling.
The vice president is facing two fresh ouster suits over betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, and high crimes, among others, filed in February 2026 after the one-year bar lapsed.
The complaints stemmed from allegations of public fund misuse as vice president and Education Secretary, threats to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and unexplained wealth.
Duterte, in her formal reply, said the House panel violated her right to due process and that the allegations do not bear ultimate facts.
