VP Sara Duterte, Camp Invited by House Justice Committee for “Mini-Trial” on March 25
The House of Representatives’ Justice panel warned Vice President Sara Duterte of what may happen if she skips the “mini-trial” on March 25.
Recently, after the House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice found the impeachment complaints against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte as sufficient in grounds, the panel has issued an invitation to the Vice President to attend the March 25 “mini-trial”. Justice committee chairperson Gerville Luistro claimed that it will give both camps the chance to present their witnesses.
The chairperson of the House Justice Committee also warned Vice Pres. Sara Duterte on the possible impact of skipping the March 25 “mini-trial” of the impeachment case against her. Based on a report on ABS-CBN, Luistro warned that if the Vice President skips the hearing on March 25, it may speed up the process and lead to the transmission of the complaint to the Senate.
The House Justice panel is allowed to continue their legal proceedings on the impeachment complaints against Vice pres. Sara Duterte despite the Congressional recess. After the March 25 hearing, the other sessions are set on April 14, 22, and 29.
“The purpose of this hearing proper… is to give opportunity to both parties to present their witnesses, to present their evidence, so when we determine the probable cause, the [committee] members will be guided… That’s why this is very significant for the respondent to consider. Kasi this is the opportunity for her to counter the evidence of the complainant.” Luistro said.
The impeachment complaints declared sufficient in form, substance, and grounds by the House Justice Committee are the third and fourth impeachment raps filed against the Vice President. The panel set aside the first impeachment rap while Tindig Pilipinas withdrew the second impeachment complaint.
The complainants behind the second impeachment rap filed against Duterte withdrew their complaint to avoid procedural delays. They supported the third impeachment rap which raised the following grounds:
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount over PHP 500 million confidential funds (CF) allocated to the Office of the Vice President from 2022 to 2023
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in amassing and converting the amount of not less than PHP 112.5 million of confidential funds allocated to the Department of Education (DepEd) for the year 2023
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust by corrupting and bribing officials of the DepEd
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes in contracting to murder or assassinate the president, the first lady, and the former speaker of the House
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all her properties and interests in properties in her SALN
- Alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust in committing acts of political destabilization and the high crimes of sedition and insurrection
Based on the report, the House Justice panel also invited the complainants of the third impeachment complaint to the “mini-trial” set on March 25. The complainants immediately expressed that they are ready.
Amid the Justice panel continuing the legal proceedings on the impeachment complaints against Duterte, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque expressed an accusation against some members of the House over Duterte’s impeachment complaints.