Dennis Gasgonia

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Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte has received an invitation to attend the March 25 hearing of the House Committee on Justice on the two impeachment complaints against her but has yet to decide on whether she will attend.Duterte lawyer Michael Poa said the vice president&#x27;s decision will be guided by input from her legal team of more than a dozen lawyers.&quot;If we cannot cross-examine or test the credibility of the witnesses that will be speaking against her, then I do not see any advantage in that,” Poa said, stressing that he is only giving his personal opinion.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/18/house-justice-panel-sara-duterte-impeachment-hearing-1040">House panel finds Sara Duterte impeachment complaints ‘sufficient in grounds’, to start ‘hearing proper’ on March 25</a></div>Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville Luistro of Batangas said attending the hearing is Duterte&#x27;s prerogative but said her skipping it would leave the allegations against her &quot;unrebutted.&quot;She added: “The purpose of this hearing proper… is to give opportunity to both parties to present their witnesses, to present their evidence, so when we determine the probable cause, the [committee] members will be guided… That’s why this is very significant for the respondent to consider. Kasi this is the opportinity for her to counter the evidence of the complainant.&quot;Luistro said Duterte not participating could increase the chances of the case going to the Senate for trial.She said that was what happened at the hearing on whether the complaints had  sufficient grounds, where, she said, some members pointed out that Duterte had not respond to allegations directly.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/17/3rd-impeachment-complainants-waive-right-to-reply-to-vp-duterte-s-non-answer-1226">3rd, 4th impeachment complainants waive right to reply to VP Duterte’s &#x27;non-answer&#x27;</a></div>Committee member Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro party-list shares this view, saying non-participation would leave the allegations &quot;uncontroverted&quot;, or undisputed.“So, ibig sabihin, ‘yung all the details relating to the misuse of confidential funds, tuloy po &#x27;yun. Kumbaga kasado po ‘yung mga alegasyon at ebidensya patungkol doon,” he said. Mamamayang Liberal Party-List Rep. Leila de Lima, meanwhile, said if Duterte opts out of the hearing, she would be waiving her right to respond to the allegations.“[T]he whole proceedings cannot be stunted or cannot be stopped or cannot be derailed by the mere absence of the respondent,&quot; she said, adding the House has a duty to process the complaints. Poa stressed that the burden of proof at this stage lies with the complainants. “That means that it is not incumbent upon the accused or the respondent to present her defenses up until proper stage, which is trial,&quot; he said.Complainants in the third impeachment complaint against Duterte also received an invitation to the March 25 House panel hearing, according to their lawyer, Amando Virgil Ligutan.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/19/vp-sara-duterte-camp-warned-vs-skipping-house-mini-trial-on-impeachment-1320">VP Sara Duterte, camp warned vs skipping House &#x27;mini-trial&#x27; on impeachment complaint</a></div>“We are ready. The complainants, the team is ready,” he said.<div> </div><div>NO ULTIMATE FACTS? </div>Poa said he disagrees with the observation that Duterte’s Consolidated Verified Answer Ad Cautelam is a “non-answer” for supposedly failing to controvert the “material allegations” in the impeachment complaints against her.“That disregards the fundamental points that we are raising… the failure to allege essential facts that would constitute the impeachable offenses they are accusing her of,&quot; he said.But Ligutan argued that those are in the 98-page complaint, adding that it seems “there is this fundamental error on the part of the defense team on how they appreciate a so basic concept of ultimate facts.”Ridon meanwhile said the allegations are based on evidence and reports, not speculation. “These are based on proceedings that had already been undertaken in previous years. So, hindi ho totoo na all of these are based on conjecture, speculation, and conclusions. So, that needs to be pushed back on,” he said.

Vice President Sara Duterte has received an invitation to attend the March 25 hearing of the House Committee on Justice on the two impeachment complaints against her but has yet to decide on whether she will attend.

Vice President Sara Duterte has received an invitation to attend the March 25 hearing of the House Committee on Justice on the two impeachment complaints against her but has yet to decide on whether she will attend.

VP Duterte, complainants invited to March 25 House hearing on impeachment

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VP Duterte, complainants invited to March 25 House hearing on impeachment

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 19, 2026 07:22 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

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