Four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte will undergo initial scrutiny by the House Committee on Justice starting March 2, as lawmakers begin determining whether the cases meet constitutional requirements.
Committee chair Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said the panel has scheduled deliberations from March 2 to 4 to evaluate if each complaint is sufficient in form and substance. The review comes shortly after the complaints were referred to the committee on February 23. Luistro indicated that discussions may proceed even during the congressional recess if necessary.
The complaints will be examined individually at this stage, with no consolidation yet. The committee may recommend dismissing certain filings while allowing others to move forward. Should any complaint advance to the plenary and be deemed sufficient, Duterte would be granted 10 calendar days to answer the charges, followed by a three-day period for the complainants’ reply.
Luistro explained that detailed hearings—where evidence may be presented and the Vice President may be invited—could follow if one or more complaints clear the preliminary threshold. Attendance at those proceedings would be up to Duterte.
“Kung dadating siya, it means that she is exercising her right to due process. Otherwise, that only means that she is waiving her right to be present during the hearing,” Luistro said.
She added that the length of the proceedings would hinge on whether the complaints satisfy constitutional standards.
“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,” she said.
The filings accuse Duterte of mishandling P612.5 million in confidential funds, using fictitious names in acknowledgment receipts, and involvement in bribery within the Department of Education. Other allegations cite unexplained wealth and discrepancies in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth, as well as claims that she issued death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Several complaints reference audit findings, statistical records, congressional proceedings, and the sworn testimony of former aide Ramil Madriaga, who admitted delivering confidential funds to her security personnel.
