‘VP Sara impeachment case could shape how PH votes in 2028’

Impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte could
shape how Filipinos decide in the 2028 presidential elections, House
Committee on Justice chair Gerville R. Luistro said Tuesday,
acknowledging the potential political impact of the hearings.

The Justice panel is set to begin deliberations on four impeachment
complaints against Duterte from March 2 to 4, initially to determine
their sufficiency in form and substance.

“Of course. Of course because dito sa ating proceedings,
mapapag-uusapan yung grounds which are issues being imputed, being
imputed against the Vice President. So, I think it’s possible na
maaapektuhan ‘yung judgment ng Filipino people on how they’re going to
decide for the next Presidential election,” Luistro told reporters in
an ambush interview.

At the same time, she stressed that the committee would adhere
strictly to established rules and timelines and would not allow
political considerations to dictate the process.

“We are bound to finish in a period of 60-session days. Sixty session
days for the Justice Committee. So, I don’t think naman na aabutin
tayo ng filing of candidacy for next year,” Luistro said when asked
whether the proceedings might stretch into the 2027 filing of
certificates of candidacy.

“Ako kasi always stick to the rules. We will be following strictly the
rules. So, right now wala pa akong makitang challenges. Basta
initially we stick to the determination of sufficiency in form… Pag
natapos tayo doon, we go to the next. That is the determination of
sufficiency in substance,” she said.

Luistro added that the same parameters used in the previous
impeachment proceedings against the President would apply.

“As I have said in the past interviews, kung anong procedure, kung
anong parameter ang ginamit natin sa impeachment against the
president, we will be adopting the same with respect to our
impeachment process against the vice president,” she said.

Pressed on whether Duterte’s perceived popularity as a potential 2028
contender could influence the committee’s assessment, Luistro said the
outcome would depend on the evidence presented.

“It will depend on the progress of the hearing. It will depend on the
evidence which will be established. But there is no ‘hard and fast’
(rule) really, that this will affect the popularity of the vice
president. Depende ‘yun sa mangyayari sa hearing,” she said.

Earlier, Luistro announced that the four impeachment complaints have
been referred to the Justice Committee and that hearings would proceed
even during recess if necessary.

“So initially, I wish to advance that we are inclined to continue the
hearing even during recess. Kung dadating tayo sa puntong iyon about
the recess, yes, we will continue our deliberation even during the
recess of the House,” she said.

The panel could not begin deliberations this week as it needed time to
reproduce the complaints and distribute copies to all members.

“Of course, we cannot start this week as much as we wanted to take
action right away because the Justice Committee need to reproduce the
complaints and provide copies to all the members,” Luistro said.

She clarified that while the four complaints would be tackled in a
single impeachment proceeding, they would not be physically
consolidated at the outset.

“For clarity, kaya sinasabi nating consolidation is because we will be
deliberating on the four impeachment complaints in one impeachment
proceeding. But as to the physical consolidation, that will happen
only after we have determined the existence of probable cause,” she
explained.

Luistro outlined a five-step process, beginning with the determination
of sufficiency in form and sufficiency in substance.

“We will be determining sufficiency in form and substance on the
entirety of the impeachment complaint. Ang deliberation natin gagawin
natin per impeachment complaint. We will also tackle per ground, pero
pag bumoto tayo, our vote will be based on the entirety of the
impeachment complaint,” she said.

If a complaint passes both standards, the respondent will be given 10
calendar days to file an answer. The complainant may reply within
three days, followed by a three-day period for the respondent’s
rejoinder. The committee will then proceed to a hearing proper before
voting on probable cause.

Luistro acknowledged that the proceedings could take longer than
previous impeachment deliberations due to the number of complaints and
grounds cited.

“They might be correct kasi four impeachment complaints ito, compared
doon kay Presidente which are only two impeachment complaints… On that
ground, I would agree na mas magiging mahaba ang deliberation,” she
said.

She noted that discussions would be conducted per complaint and per
ground, with some grounds overlapping across the four filings.

“Ultimately kung mahaba o hindi ang proceeding nito, it will depend
first kung papasa siya sa standard ng form and substance. Kung papasa
siya sa standard ng form and substance, then possibly mahaba ang
magiging procedure,” Luistro said.

She emphasized that impeachment is a constitutional mechanism that
must proceed independent of political calculations.

“Again, because this is a very important process, this is an
extraordinary power that was given to the sovereign Filipino people to
impeach high-ranking public official. We do not want to delay
impeachment proceedings,” she said.