Metro Manila, Philippines – The House justice committee is set to wait until the end of office hours on Monday, March 16, for Vice President Sara Duterte’s response on the impeachment complaints against her.
Two impeachment complaints hurdled the panel’s tests for sufficiency in form and substance, which prompted the sending of the documents to Duterte and a 10-day deadline for her to answer the allegations.
The two complaints share nearly identical grounds for impeachment, including culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and high crimes. Among the issues raised was the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
When asked on Saturday, March 14, whether she will send a reply, Duterte said in Bisaya in a chance interview: “Let’s see if I will file a reply or not. The House of Representatives should wait.”
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the justice panel, said this could make the impeachment process “shortened, abbreviated.”
“So ibig sabihin po, I think as early as the final weeks of this month, pwede mag-proceed na to a determination of sufficiency [on] grounds and then we can proceed to ’yung hearing proper,” he said in a forum in Quezon City on Saturday.
[Translation: This means, I think as early as the final weeks of March, we can proceed to a determination of sufficiency on grounds then the hearing proper.]
Under impeachment rules, Duterte’s answer may include affirmative defenses. Complainants are allowed to respond, followed by a rejoinder from the vice president.
If the respondent does not respond, this is treated as a general denial to the complaints.
Evidence, relevant documents, and pleadings will be submitted before the committee determines whether there are sufficient grounds for impeachment. Once it passes the test, the committee will proceed to a hearing proper.
The committee previously scheduled the hearing proper for April 8, when records and personalities tagged in the allegations may be summoned.
The House justice committee is expected to conduct a meeting to deliberate on preliminary matters on Wednesday, March 18.
Issues include the motion on securing the custody of Ramil Madriaga, the alleged bagman of Duterte, and the participation of Michael Poa and Reynold Munsayac as members of the vice president’s defense team.
Ridon said there may be “serious ethical and procedural questions” in the inclusion of Poa and Munsayac, as they could also explain the issue of Duterte’s confidential funds as former spokesmen during her stint as education secretary.
“Ngayon lang ako nakarinig ng circumstance na hindi pinapayagan ang respondent kung sino ang pinipili niya na lawyers. So, antayin nalang kung ano ang mangyayari,” the vice president said.
[Translation: This is the first time that I heard of a circumstance where the respondent is not allowed to choose who will be their lawyers. So, let’s wait and see what happens.]
