It's Official: House Panel Will Start Tackling Sara Duterte's Impeachment on March 2 — No Lawyers Allowed for the VP

Mark your calendars: the House Committee on Justice will begin deliberations on the four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte starting March 2, 3, and 4. Committee Chair Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro confirmed the schedule, saying they'll first determine whether the complaints are sufficient in form and substance.

Here's the kicker: Luistro clarified that no House rule explicitly allows the respondent's lawyers to participate in impeachment hearings. That means Sara Duterte's legal team may not be able to argue on her behalf during committee deliberations — a significant procedural point that could spark controversy. The VP's camp will likely protest this.

Luistro outlined a five-step process: first, determine sufficiency in form; second, sufficiency in substance; third, give the respondent 10 calendar days to file an answer; fourth, allow reply and rejoinder periods; and finally, a hearing proper before voting on probable cause. While the four complaints will be deliberated in a single proceeding, they won't be physically consolidated until probable cause is determined.

The Batangas lawmaker acknowledged this could take longer than previous impeachment proceedings, given the volume of complaints and grounds involved. Manila Rep. Joel Chua reminded the public that the House functions like a preliminary investigation — the actual trial happens in the Senate. "Due process will be strictly observed at the committee level," Chua stressed.

Luistro also signaled the committee is "inclined to continue hearings even during recess" — meaning they're not planning to let the congressional break slow things down. With Sara already announcing her 2028 presidential run and her father facing ICC charges simultaneously, these impeachment proceedings will add another explosive chapter to the Duterte family's legal woes. Abangan.

Source: PhilStar