Metro Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives could vote on whether to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte as early as the second week of May, based on a timeline eyed by justice committee chairperson Gerville “Jinky” Luistro.
The committee is set to hold its next hearing on Wednesday, April 29, focusing on Duterte’s alleged online threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of his family.
Luistro said panel members could decide by then whether to vote on determining probable cause, though they may also opt to extend deliberations or hold another hearing.
“I haven’t heard from the members of the Justice Committee since the last hearing and I need to know their thoughts on this, kung ready na ba silang bumoto on the probable cause by the end of our hearing on April 29,” Luistro told NewsWatch Plus on Friday, April 29.
Asked about the timeline, Luistro said that if the committee votes on probable cause that day, she intends to approve the committee report and sponsor it in plenary on Monday, May 4, the first day of the resumption of session.
“Once transmitted to the plenary, the plenary has to transmit a copy of the entire committee report including all the attachments to the respondent vice president. And perhaps next week, May 11 onwards, the plenary should be ready to vote,” Luistro said.
She added that the schedule would give House members enough time to review the committee report before voting on whether to impeach the Vice President, in line with a Supreme Court ruling last year that declared a previous impeachment complaint unconstitutional.
Luistro said the timeline remains tentative.
“All the dates that I mentioned are tentative. Only in my perspective as the chair of the justice committee, those are my intentions. But as to whether that will really happen on the given dates, it all depends on the decision of the plenary. And by plenary it means all the House members,” Luistro clarified.
Duterte tax records
Before any vote on probable cause, lawmakers must also decide whether to open the controversial box of Duterte’s Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records.
“Definitely, i-re-resolve namin ito because we cannot leave this hanging. If we will be voting on the probable cause this coming April 29, we need to resolve first the issue on whether or not to open the box,” she said.
Luistro said committee members remain “totally divided,” noting that she sees merit in both positions: one arguing that the confidentiality exemption for BIR records applies only to legislative inquiries and not impeachment proceedings, and another emphasizing the need for accountability.
She added that the BIR records could reflect the Vice President and her husband’s personal income, which may either support or contradict their declared ₱88.5 million net worth as of their 2024 statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth.
