PROCEEDINGS at the House Committee on Justice on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte may resemble a “mini-trial,” with witnesses, affidavits and documentary evidence presented before lawmakers decide whether probable cause exists to elevate the case to the Senate.
Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, committee chair, said the hearings aimed to thoroughly examine the evidence before determining whether the complaints go to the next stage of the constitutional process.
“I don’t think that is possible. We can only shorten the proceedings of the Justice Committee, perhaps via a motion and vote to be raised by the Justice members themselves,” Luistro said when asked if Duterte’s camp could skip the presentation of evidence and move directly to a vote on probable cause.
She explained that the committee may move to abbreviate the proceedings once they believe the evidence presented are already sufficient.
Luistro likened the committee’s role to a prosecutor conducting a preliminary investigation.
“Here, it’s probable cause. That is why I always compare the proceedings before the Justice committee to a preliminary investigation by a prosecutor. Having found probable cause, we file at the court—and that court is the Senate,” she explained.
She stressed that the House does not determine guilt or innocence.
“It is not the Justice committee. It is not the House of Representatives. It is the Senate which is empowered either to acquit or to convict the respondent,” Luistro said.
Under the process, the committee first reviews affidavits, counter-affidavits and other documentary submissions before moving on to hearings where complainants and witnesses may testify.
The Vice President may also be invited to attend, although Luistro said Duterte’s presence during the hearings is optional and part of her right to due process.
After the hearings, the committee will vote on whether probable cause exists, a stage that requires the majority vote of all committee members.
Luistro said the hearing stage provides lawmakers the best opportunity to fully evaluate the evidence before deciding whether the impeachment case should be transmitted to the Senate.
She added that the panel may also compel the submission of relevant documents through subpoena if necessary.
