BY ALL INDICATIONS, the refusal of Vice President Sara Duterte to attend the preliminary investigation to establish probable cause over the impeachment charges is a dangerous indication that she respects no rules or laws governing a co-equal branch of government.
To some, her action — intentionally snobbing the clarificatory hearing called for by the House Justice Committee — was her distaste for accountability and truth.
In her absence, Sara sent a team of lawyers composed of 10 academic elites who questioned the rules governing the Justice Committee’s “mini trial” which according to them is the function of a trial court — or the Senate acting as an impeachment court.
Her non appearance could have been based on precedents like former President Estrada and other impeachable officers, who did not show up in said House hearings because their cases were brought directly to the Senate. “So VP’s team could claim they did not disrespect the House,” said ANC anchor Karen Davila.
Even if she or her legal team would go to the Supreme Court to contest the impeachment proceedings that she failed or persist in not attending, the High Tribunal would ask her why she opted not to defend herself during the preliminaries or fact-finding proceedings, Luistro said.
Justice Committee chair Rep. Gerville Luistro took pains explaining to news anchors that while the House has met the parameters for sufficiency in form and substance, the committee is now tackling sufficiency in grounds or probable cause for an impeachment case, which is why the need for subpoenaing Atty. Michael Poa, her legal counsel and spokesperson.
By probable cause, it only means justification to proceed to trial, Luistro explained.
As justice committee members, legislators can investigate all statements, evidence and other materials related to the complaints filed before a formal impeachment complaint can be transmitted to the senate, as a trial court.
The impeachment against the Vice President was endorsed to the justice committee by Rep. Leila de Lima with Reps. Chel Diokno and Tinio and many others as members of the justice committee.
She said the next clarificatory investigation would be held on April 14 and while Congress is in session after that, following the 60 calendar rules laid out by the Supreme Court in its January 2026 decision on the earlier impeachment complaint filed by the lower house on the VP, which the High Tribunal rejected.
The justice committee has subpoenaed the Ombudsman for the Vice President’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) in support of the three grounds stated in the impeachment complaint namely: confidential funds misuse, the threat against the President, the former House Speaker and First Lady and unexplained wealth.
Luistro remains positive that the 60-day rule of SC on impeachment would be met without taking a whole year to complete and submit to the Senate the formal impeachment complaint for its trial.