Sara No-Show, But House Pushes Impeach Hearing Forward

Vice President Sara Duterte skipped Wednesday’s House Committee on Justice hearing, but lawmakers pushed ahead anyway as they examined the impeachment complaints filed against her. Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said the panel would continue its work even without Duterte physically present.

According to the report, the committee is trying to determine whether there is probable cause to impeach the vice president over allegations tied to the supposed misuse of intelligence funds from both the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, where she briefly served as secretary before stepping down.

Luistro said the panel remains bound by its constitutional duty and insisted the proceedings would stay fair and constitutional. The committee had already found the complaints sufficient in form, substance, and grounds, so the hearing moved forward despite questions from Duterte’s camp.

Duterte, for her part, argued that the complaints should be dismissed for lack of evidence. She also said there is no rule requiring a respondent in an impeachment complaint to personally attend the hearings, adding that she had already submitted her Answer ad Cautelam.

The vice president also framed the issue as misplaced political focus, saying families are already hurting from rising prices and economic strain. But for the House panel, tuloy ang proseso: the hearing is continuing as Congress weighs whether the complaints deserve to move deeper into the impeachment track.

Source: The Manila Times