Batangas: 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro on Thursday stated that the House Committee on Justice is resolute and prepared to defend its unanimous finding of probable cause against Vice President Sara Duterte. In a televised interview, she emphasized that the panel is moving forward with the responsibility of upholding and advancing the case it has formally endorsed for House plenary action, and if affirmed, for eventual trial in the Senate.
According to Philippines News Agency, Luistro officially declared that "the Justice Committee has a stand, and the stand is for the probable cause." She noted that the committee's mandate is to defend this determination and, if affirmed by the plenary, to prosecute the Vice President until her conviction in the Senate trial.
Responding to claims from Duterte's camp that the proceedings were unconstitutional, Luistro stated that the Justice Committee had anticipated such attacks from the beginning and is prepared to continue unless explicitly ordered otherwise by the courts. She mentioned that legal challenges have included petitions before the Supreme Court and criminal complaints against some committee members, including herself.
Luistro explained that the Committee's position remains firm as long as there is no temporary restraining order or injunction, emphasizing their constitutional duty to proceed with the impeachment process. The House Committee on Justice is preparing to send a single consolidated Articles of Impeachment against Duterte to the plenary, combining allegations from two impeachment complaints into one article.
The committee expects to transmit its work on May 4, after which the focus will shift to the full House. Luistro clarified that a plenary vote cannot be hastily conducted for mere spectacle, as House members must first receive and study the articles and supporting materials. She emphasized that what matters is not the speed of the process but ensuring that both the Vice President and House members are equipped to make informed decisions.
This approach aligns with Supreme Court guidance, which dictates that the House cannot validly vote without providing its members ample time to examine the articles and accompanying evidence. Luistro referenced the Supreme Court decision in the Duterte vs. House of Representatives case, which underscores the necessity for House members to have sufficient time to review the articles of impeachment and related documents before voting.
