Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives on Monday officially referred to the Committee on Justice the four verified impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.
This referral marked the formal start of the House’s impeachment process, triggering as well the one year bar period which rules that no new impeachment raps and proceedings may be initiated against Duterte this year.
With the complaints referred to the Justice Committee, the panel is to determine the content of the four impeachment complaints, on whether these are sufficient in form and in substance.
House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville Luistro noted that the proceedings on Duterte’s impeachment raps will undergo the same process done on President Ferdinand Marcos’ case which was dismissed by the panel.
Luistro explained that in the determination of sufficiency of the complaints, the Committee will tackle each of the raps, and will discuss the grounds one by one as well.
Most of the complaints share the same grounds including allegations of misuse of OVP and DepEd’s confidential funds, along with accusations of constitutional violations, betrayal of public trust, and more.
After the Committee determines the sufficiency of all or of one of the cases, the panel shall conduct responsive pleading to establish that there is enough basis to support the impeachment complaint.
After this, the Committee shall conduct hearings with the respondent, complainants, and witnesses, where the Panel will base off its committee report.
This committee report shall provide the panel’s recommendation on whether to pursue the case and will need 1/3 of plenary’s vote for the complaint to be initated to the Senate.
It can be recalled that on February 5 last year, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte through 1/3 votes of the members of the Congress.
While the case was initiated to the Senate, it was archived following the Supreme Court’s ruling to declare the 4th impeachment complaint as unconstitutional and void due to violation of due process and of the one year bar ruling.
Following the referral, the Justice Committee has 60 session days to resolve the matter—whether to dismiss the case or recommend Duterte’s impeachment.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News