The House of Representatives’ committee on justice voted on Wednesday to summon witnesses and documents it deemed necessary to determine “probable cause” to bring Vice President Sara Duterte to trial at the Senate impeachment court.
Among the documents are the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in its probe into Duterte’s threat in November 2024 that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then Speaker Martin Romualdez would be assassinated if, she said, a supposed plan to have her killed were to succeed.
The committee chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro will also seek the release of Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) as early as 2007, as well as her income tax returns and the financial records of her and her husband’s business interests.
As expected, neither Duterte nor her lawyers showed up. Luistro said they are welcome to attend “at any stage” of the proceedings. “The people [have been] waiting since 2024, and we are really hoping in the justice committee that the Vice President will participate and take advantage of this opportunity to answer all allegations against her,” the lawmaker said.
In her opening statement, Luistro issued a warning to Duterte regarding her continued absence. Quoting a statement made by Supreme Court Associate Noel Tijam during the impeachment of then Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in 2017, she said “failure to participate in the hearings before the House committee of justice is tantamount to culpable violation of the Constitution.”
“The question now: Can we say this to the Vice President?” Luistro said, issuing the reminder that Duterte and other government officials are sworn to fulfill their duties, preserve the Constitution, and execute the laws of the land.
‘Bloodbath’
Luistro noted that Duterte had earlier been reported as preparing for a “full-scale legal battle” and a “bloodbath” to defend herself from accusations. “And yet it appears she will not even participate,” Luistro said.
The Vice President issued a statement shortly after the House committee on justice convened, shrugging off the hearing and saying it was, after all, “the third fishing expedition” by the House against her. She was investigated in 2024 and 2025 by the House “quad” committee in relation to her alleged misuse of confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), which she once concurrently headed.
Her alleged misuse of ₱612 million in confidential funds is among the key points of the impeachment complaints filed against her.
“Again, they are putting politics ahead of the interest of millions of Filipinos who are struggling with the rising costs of living,” the Vice President said in her statement issued in Filipino.
She said that she had already replied to the impeachment complaints and that the House justice committee should dismiss these for lack of evidence. “In the meantime, I choose to spend my time helping Filipinos,” she said.
Luistro said in her opening remarks that the House continues to serve the people even as it conducts the impeachment hearings.
It was also disclosed during the hearing that in a letter sent to Luistro on March 24, Duterte’s lawyers said the decision not to attend was made because she had stated it to be a “mini trial” which, they said, the House had no jurisdiction to conduct.
Said Luistro: “This is just a clarificatory hearing for the purpose of determining probable cause, which will allow us to proceed to trial in the Senate.”
Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima said the proceedings are “akin to a preliminary investigation.” Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said the use of the term “mini trial” was only “to distinguish it from the actual trial that will happen in the Senate.”
Dismay
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said he was “dismayed” by the letter of Duterte’s lawyers and moved that the committee issue an order denying or “traversing [their] erroneous” statements and inviting them to attend the next session on April 12.
“We have jurisdiction to order them,” Rodriguez said.
But Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno expressed reservations with Rodriguez’s motion, saying Duterte’s lawyers could “twist” the committee’s “order.” He suggested that Luistro just “respond” to the letter.
Diokno said it appeared that Duterte’s lawyers are “looking for reasons to question the committee [before] the courts. He added: “They are entitled to their opinion. Let’s do our duty, fulfill what the Constitution commands.”
In the end, the committee agreed with De Lima’s suggestion “not to dignify with an answer” the letter of Duterte’s lawyers.
Approved motions
After these lively discussions, the committee proceeded to approve motions to subpoena relevant documents and witnesses from various government agencies:
• On the motion of Manila Rep. Joel Chua, for the Office of the Ombudsman to hand certified true copies of the Vice President’s SALNs for the years 2007–2013, 2016–2022, and 2022–2025, which Rodriguez objected to.
• On Chua’s motion, for the NBI to submit certified copies of all records, documents and photos in its investigation of the Vice President’s threats against the President and his wife and Romualdez.
• On Chua’s and Ridon’s separate motions, for the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit financial and corporate records tied to Duterte and her family, and business firms, and tax records from 2007 to 2025 as part of the committee’s efforts to look into the Vice President’s alleged unexplained wealth.
• On De Lima’s motion, for the testimony of Gloria Camora of the Commission on Audit and the production of documents on confidential funds such as liquidation reports, disbursement vouchers, certifications and related submissions of the OVP and DepEd.
• On De Lima’s motion, for the subpoena of Ramil Madriaga, Duterte’s alleged bagman, and the authentication of his affidavit dated Nov. 29, 2025, exposing her alleged corrupt activities.
• Through Diokno’s motion, the provision of additional security for Madriaga.
• On De Lima’s motion, that Rodriguez’s remarks calling Madriaga a “polluted source” be stricken off the record.
• Through De Lima’s motion, for the House Legislative Library Archives Division to submit transcripts, video recordings and related records of the House hearings on the OVP and DepEd confidential funds in 2024.
• Through the motion of ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, that Duterte’s lawyer Michael Poa, her chief of staff and spokesperson at the DepEd, be called to testify at the committee hearing.
• Through De Lima’s motion, for the Philippine Statistics Authority to provide and authenticate birth, marriage and death records for those whom the OVP and DepEd had named as beneficiaries of the confidential funds.
The House committee on justice is scheduled to convene again on April 14, 22 and 29. CS
