Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771924228495photo-collage.png (6)_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The House Committee on Justice plans to begin initial deliberations on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on March 2, according to Committee Chairperson Gerville Luistro. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News &amp; Robert Vinas, Malacanang Photo/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The House Committee on Justice plans to begin initial deliberations on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on March 2, according to Committee chairperson Gerville Luistro.</p><p>Luistro said her panel is eyeing March 2, 3 and 4 as initial schedule for discussions on sufficiency in form and substance of the four complaints.</p><p>&quot;We are dedicating Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as our initial hearing dates for the impeachment complaints against the… Vice President,” Luistro said.</p><p>“If these impeachment complaints will pass the standard of form and substance, then we will be needing to issue a notice to the Vice President for her to file her answer. And after which, kung may sufficient basis ang impeachment complaint, we will be needing to conduct a hearing. Kung dadating tayo sa puntong iyon… ‘yes, we will continue our deliberation even during the recess of the House,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/23/house-initiates-impeachment-proceeding-against-vp-duterte-1619">House initiates impeachment proceeding against VP Duterte</a></div><p>“Right now, wala pa akong makitang challenges. Basta initially, we stick to the determination of sufficiency in form… ‘Pag natapos tayo doon, we go to the next. That is the determination of sufficiency in substance… Kung anong procedure, kung anong parameter ang ginamit natin sa impeachment against the President, we will be adopting the same with respect to our impeachment process against the Vice President” Luistro noted.</p><p>If the committee later decides to hold a hearing, the Vice President will be invited, but it is her prerogative whether or not to attend.</p><p>Asked whether Duterte can send a lawyer, Luistro said the rules are silent on the participation of lawyers, but if there is such a request, it will be decided upon by the members.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;LENGTHIER&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>House Committee on Justice Vice Chairperson Jonathan Keith Flores and House Committee on Good Government Chairperson Joel Chua expect the House panel deliberations on the impeachment complaints against Duterte to be “a bit lengthier” than its previous deliberations on the impeachment complaints against the President, which ran for four session days.</p><p>“There are four impeachment complaints against the Vice President and there are more charges within each complaint. In contrast, the dismissed complaints against the President were only two and the charges were fewer. Therefore, this time around the committee will have more work to do. But we will work within the deadline or time frame set by the Constitution,” Flores explained.</p><p>“Ang apat na impeachment complaints na inihain laban sa Vice President ay mangangailangan ng masusing pagsusuri at masinsinang pagtalakay. It is therefore logical and reasonable to expect there will be more work by reason of volume, and the deliberations will be more tedious because the first mode is applied,” Chua added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/8/sara-duterte-claims-impeachment-threat-a-bargaining-chip-in-2026-budget-1040">Sara Duterte claims impeachment threat a ‘bargaining chip’ in 2026 budget</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>GETTING READY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Endorsers of the impeachment complaints against Duterte are preparing for the initial deliberations expected next week.</p><p>“Inaasahan natin na magtuloy-tuloy ito hanggang doon sa determination of probable cause. At sa susunod nga, pagkatapos dito sa House, hanggang sa Senado, sa trial. Matagal na po itong hinihintay ng lahat ng apektado ng pagwawaldas ng pondo ng Confidential and Intelligence Funds,” Gabriela Party List Representative Sarah Elago said.</p><p>“Hindi sana gawing paraan para mag-political grandstanding, but rather… magbigay ng tunay na pag-account kung saan ba napunta ang perang winaldas, Confidential and Intelligence Funds na sana pumunta na lang sa totoong pagtayo ng classrooms, totoong serbisyong pang-edukasyon sa kabataan at hindi para sa pansariling interes ng iilan,” Kabataan Party List Rep. Renee Co added.</p><p>“We can easily convince them that these complaints, the second and third complaints, and perhaps the two other complaints, are sufficient in both form and substance,” ML Party List Leila de Lima said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;KAPAL NAMAN NYA&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>She believes Duterte’s announcement of her 2028 presidential bid could boomerang.</p><p>“It can be either na matatakot na ‘yung iba, mag-aalangan na kasi kung siya nga ang maging Pangulo, baka pag-initan talaga sila. And then, or, magba-backfire. Kasi iisipin ng mga member ng Kamara, hindi kami basta-basta tinatakot o hindi kami basta-basta maiimpluwensya ng ganyang style,” De Lima explained.</p><p>For Tinio, an official who is the subject of an impeachment proceeding is not worthy of the highest post in the country.</p><p>“Kapal naman niya. Nahaharap nga siya sa impeachment complaint, ibig sabihin nito hindi siya karapat-dapat na tumakbo.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/6/sara-duterte-says-no-findings-of-overpriced-cctvs-wrongdoing-in-coa-audit-1605">Sara Duterte says no findings of ‘overpriced’ CCTVs, ‘wrongdoing’ in COA audit</a></div><p>Will the impeachment proceedings affect Filipino voter’s sentiment in 2028? </p><p>“Of course, because dito sa ating proceedings, mapapag-usapan ‘yung grounds which are issues being imputed against the Vice President. I think it&#x27;s possible na maaapektuhan yung judgment ng Filipino people on how they&#x27;re going to decide for the next presidential election. Whether the popularity will be affected by the hearing? It will depend on the progress of the hearing. It will depend on the evidence which will be established,” Luistro said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QIgXHaMUCwE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SnFn1IiHaq4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uUbR9OqBHws?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RyrE8-4rgKU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The House Committee on Justice plans to begin initial deliberations on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on March 2, according to Committee chairperson Gerville Luistro.</p>

The House Committee on Justice plans to begin initial deliberations on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on March 2, according to Committee chairperson Gerville Luistro.

House panel eyes March 2 start of deliberations on VP Sara impeachment raps

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House panel eyes March 2 start of deliberations on VP Sara impeachment raps

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 24, 2026 05:19 PM PHT

Read More:

House Committee on Justice

Gerville Luistro

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

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