Metro Manila, Philippines – House justice committee chairperson Gerville “Jinky” Luistro said Vice President Sara Duterte’s attendance in the upcoming impeachment hearings will be “very significant” to directly challenge the evidence presented against her.
In an interview on The Newsmaker on Friday, March 20, Luistro said Duterte’s presence would give her the opportunity to “witness up close and personal the evidence which will be presented by the complainant.”
“Of course, this is significant because she needs to counter, to rebut, to question the evidence of the complainant so as to provide basis for the members of the Justice Committee in not voting in favor of the impeachment complaint,” she said.
Luistro said skipping the proceedings could leave the allegations unanswered.
“If she will not avail of this opportunity, she will not participate in the hearing proper… she will not rebut, she will not challenge, she will not refute the evidence of the complainant,” she said.
“Which will definitely influence the judgment of the justice members in the determination of the existence or non-existence of probable cause,” she added.
Luistro said it’s Duterte’s choice in the end.
“The participation of the vice president… is her prerogative. It’s a part of her right to due process,” she said.
She said under House impeachment rules, lawyers cannot take the lead in questioning witnesses.’
“Only the justice members can conduct direct examination and cross-examination,” she said.
“Lawyers cannot participate… at the very least, it should be limited to assisting their clients,” Luistro added, stressing that Duterte’s personal participation would be crucial in presenting her defense.
Luistro assured the public that the committee will uphold fairness throughout the proceedings.
“Wala kaming obligasyon sa presidente, wala kaming obligasyon sa vice president. Ang obligasyon namin ay doon sa sambayan ng Pilipino,” she said.
[Translation: We have no obligation to the president or the vice president. Our obligation is to the Filipino people.]
The House committee on justice formally invited Duterte to attend its March 25 meeting, where lawmakers are set to discuss the ground rules and begin initial proceedings on the impeachment complaints filed against her.
Duterte was invited in her capacity as respondent in the complaints filed by Reverend Father Joel Saballa and others, as well as lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera.
The agenda includes discussions on the impeachment hearing ground rules and the initial hearing on the complaints, along with other matters such as possible subpoenas, the schedule of succeeding hearings, and the identification of witnesses and resource persons.
