Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte attends the HOR Committee hearing on Good Governance and Public Accountability at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on November 25, 2024, tackling the Php 612.5 million confidential fund expenses of the OVP and the DepEd under the helm of VP Duterte.

Article (news)

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/177433328943720241125-vpsd-hor-comm-hearing-MT-4_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte attends the HOR Committee hearing on Good Governance and Public Accountability at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on November 25, 2024, tackling the Php 612.5 million confidential fund expenses of the OVP and the DepEd under the helm of VP Duterte. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span>MANILA — The House Committee on Justice has yet to receive information whether Vice President Sara Duterte will attend the hearing proper on impeachment complaints against her slated on Wednesday.</div><div><a class="fr-green" 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><p>House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville Luistro said she is “still hopeful” the Vice President will make an appearance.</p><p>Luistro again emphasized Duterte’s absence will mean her side will not be able to present their evidence and witnesses to counter the allegations.</p><p>“Wala tayong nare-receive about the possibility of the vice president attending our hearing tomorrow. But again, we are still hopeful kasi sabi ko nga, ang tagal na nitong mga katanungan na ‘to, questions on the confidential fund, questions on the threat committed against the president, questions on unexplained wealth. I think it&#x27;s about time na marinig na ng taong bayan ang kasagutan ng ating bise presidente,” Luistro told reporters on Tuesday.</p><p>If Duterte indeed chooses not to come to the hearing proper, almost the same scenario will play out as seen in the determination of sufficiency in grounds, Luistro said.</p><p>“So ‘yung scenario doon sa determination of sufficiency in grounds, kung hindi dadating ang bise presidente sa hearing proper, it is almost the same. No evidence will challenge, controvert, or refute the allegations or evidence which will be presented by the complainant. And it will be, should I say, to the disadvantage of the vice president. Sayang ‘yung opportunity na puwede niya sanang i-question ang ebidensyang ilalatag ng complainant,” Luistro said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO PRESSURE</strong></div><p>Despite having seen claims on social media about pressure coming from House leadership and the Duterte camp, Luistro said this is not the case for them.</p><p>“I&#x27;ve been hearing from social media na mayroon daw pressure coming from the leadership of the House. Mayroon din mga representations coming from the Duterte camp, but in either party, wala tayong nararamdaman, naririnig, o na-experience na pressure about this impeachment proceeding.&quot;</p><p>The ground rules for the hearing proper are a work in progress still, according to Luistro.</p><p>Luistro said this is essentially an “amplification” of the rules of impeachment, emphasizing that the deliberation, the direct and cross-examination, has to be exclusive for the members of the House panel.</p><p>But even if Duterte is absent on Wednesday, the House panel chair said they will keep sending an invitation to Duterte until the hearing proper.</p><p>As to the possibility of submitting evidence through Duterte’s lawyer, Luistro said they will have to get the consensus of House justice committee members before allowing this.</p><p>Luistro also continued to appeal to her colleagues to participate in the hearing proper despite the congressional recess until May 3.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘WON’T STRAY FROM ANY STEP OF RULES OF IMPEACHMENT’</strong></div><p>In response to Navotas Lone District Representative Toby Tiangco filing a House resolution seeking to expedite the impeachment proceedings, Luistro said they are committed to not causing any delay.</p><p>But Luistro stressed they are not going to “deviate any step of the rules of impeachment.”</p><p>&quot;It is necessary that we comply with all the requirements, with all the procedure provided under the rules of impeachment because we understand that each requirement and step of the entire procedure forms part of the requirement of due process, which we must accord to the respondent who is the vice president,” Luistro said.</p><p>Tiangco said he has no problem with Luistro’s statement as it is important for him that the rules are followed and “applied equally.”</p><p>The fresh impeachment complaints accuse Duterte of graft and corruption while in office and of making a death threat against former ally President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>Under the Constitution, an impeachment by the House of Representatives triggers a Senate trial, where a guilty verdict could ban Duterte from elected office for life. —<strong>With reports from Agence France-Presse</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><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/adbwnYCaC2E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><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/RX0qEfHtOuM?&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/OygsupTtuOI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville Luistro said she is “still hopeful” that Vice President Sara Duterte will make an appearance.</p>

House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville Luistro said she is “still hopeful” that Vice President Sara Duterte will make an appearance.

House panel yet to receive word if VP Sara will attend impeachment 'hearing proper'

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House panel yet to receive word if VP Sara will attend impeachment 'hearing proper'

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 24, 2026 02:32 PM PHT

|

Updated March 24, 2026 08:57 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment

Duterte

House of Representatives

justice committee

hearing proper

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