Jamaine Punzalan

Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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VP SARA DUTERTE

Agatha Gregorio

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/177398984286220260218-vp-sara-duterte-presidency-MT5 (2).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The hearing proper related to the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte will start on March 25 by tackling a bid for the chamber to take protective custody of Ramil Madriaga and concerns on alleged conflict of interest in the defense team, panel chairperson Gerville Luistro said Friday.    </p><p>“What&#x27;s gonna happen during the hearing proper will be the presentation of witnesses and evidence of the complainant to be followed by that of the respondent,” Luistro told reporters. </p><p>“Pero mayroon tayong mga pending request, petition and concern, which we need to thresh out first before we proceed to the presentation of witness and evidence,” she said.  </p><p>Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno earlier urged the panel to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/12/diokno-asks-house-panel-to-take-custody-of-madriaga-for-sara-duterte-impeachment-proceedings-0956">take custody of Madriaga </a>“to ensure his safety and availability to testify” in the impeachment proceedings.</p><p>Madriaga, who claimed to be Duterte’s alleged former bagman, is currently detained in a jail facility in Taguig City for alleged kidnapping. The Vice President previously denied Madriaga’s claim.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/23/sara-duterte-visited-teves-not-alleged-bagman-madriaga-remulla-1416">Sara Duterte visited Teves, not alleged bagman Madriaga – Remulla</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon raised a concern on the potential conflict of interest with two of Duterte&#x27;s lawyers, Reynold Munsayac and Michael Poa. </p><p>Ridon noted that Poa was part of “high-level work” with Duterte, while Munsayac was Assistant Secretary for Procurement.</p><p>Luistro expects presentation of evidence will begin on April 14, depending on the readiness of the complainants.</p><div><iframe width="726" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RX0qEfHtOuM" title="What if Sara Duterte resigns during impeachment proceedings? Luistro explains | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div><div><strong>CROSS-EXAMINATION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Poa earlier said there was no advantage to Duterte attending impeachment hearings due to the inability to cross-examine. </p><p>But Luistro noted that the defense team “can actually present evidence for the purpose of countering the evidence of the complainant.” </p><p>“Remember doon sa ating hearing proper, unang maglalatag ng ebidensya ang complainant. You want to counter them, you wait for your turn. Kapag turn mo na mag-present na evidence, you can actually present your evidence in order to question the admissibility, genuineness of the documents presented by the complainant,” Luistro said.</p><p>She noted that under the rules of impeachment, only members of the House justice panel can participate in cross-examination. </p><p>But Duterte’s team may cross-examine during the trial at the Senate should the impeachment reach the upper house, according to the lawmaker.</p><p>“Under the rules, only the justice members are allowed to participate in the direct examination and cross-examination. If they want to do that, a cross-examination, they can do it during the trial in the Senate, ‘no? But for purposes of presenting evidence, of course they are allowed,” she said. </p><p>On the possibility of a member of the House justice committee presenting evidence on behalf of a respondent, Luistro said it would be “hard to conceive,” given that House lawmakers are acting as prosecutors.</p><p>“The justice members are supposed to examine the evidence and the witnesses, which are being presented by the complainant on one hand and the respondent on the other hand. Piskal  kami dito. Prosecutors kami dito,” she said. </p><p>“So ang mga justice members ang mag-aaral ng lahat ng ebidensyang ilalatag ng complainant at ng respondent. But it&#x27;s hard to conceive how a justice member will be the one to present the evidence for the respondent. The justice member is not a party here.&quot;</p><p>But Luistro said it was possible Quezon City Fourth District Rep. <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/18/suntay-appears-before-house-ethics-panel-again-1936">Bong Suntay</a> to conduct a direct examination and cross examination of witnesses.</p><p>“If Congressman Bong Suntay will be participating during the hearing proper, he is allowed to conduct direct examination and even cross-examination of the witnesses of the complainant… Pero it&#x27;s hard to conceive that Congressman Bong Suntay will be the one to present the evidence in behalf of the respondent. Congressman Bong Suntay is not a party here,” Luistro said. </p><p>Lawmakers who are not justice committee members, such as SAGIP party-list Rep. Paolo Marcoleta, cannot cross-examine. But they are allowed to make a manifestation, according to Luistro.</p><p>“For accuracy, this is [the] second paragraph of section 7 of the rules of impeachment. It says the committee through the chairperson may limit the period of examination and cross-examination by members of the committee, which means only members are allowed to participate during the examination and cross-examination,” Luistro said.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/18/house-justice-panel-sara-duterte-impeachment-hearing-1040">hearing proper</a> is scheduled on March 25, April 14, April 22, and April 29.</p><div><iframe width="726" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V0zT9VrAfgs" title="Mini bloodbath? Luistro says &#x27;hearing proper&#x27; on VP Sara impeachment a &#x27;mini-trial&#x27; | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The hearing proper related to the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte will start by tackling a bid for the chamber to take protective custody of Ramil Madriaga and concerns on alleged conflict of interest in the defense team, panel chairperson Gerville Luistro said.</p>

The hearing proper related to the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte will start by tackling a bid for the chamber to take protective custody of Ramil Madriaga and concerns on alleged conflict of interest in the defense team, panel chairperson Gerville Luistro said.

Sara Duterte impeachment hearing proper to start with Madriaga custody, conflict of interest concerns: Luistro

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Sara Duterte impeachment hearing proper to start with Madriaga custody, conflict of interest concerns: Luistro

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 20, 2026 03:03 PM PHT

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