The Manila Times
THE House Committee on Justice will transmit to the plenary today, May 4, its report finding probable cause to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte. If at least one-third of the House approves the report, it will be sent to the Senate as part of the articles of impeachment, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, the committee chairman, said in a statement on Sunday. In a unanimous vote, 53 members of the House affirmed the report of the committee last Wednesday finding probable cause with respect to the two impeachment complaints against Duterte. The committee based its finding on the issue of confidential funds, the vice president’s alleged unexplained wealth, and her remark to order the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Duterte has denied making the assassination threat. In her response, she said the complaints failed to show "any shred of proof" that a contract to kill ever existed, and that the complainants relied “on exaggerated conclusions dressed up as fact." Duterte said she will answer only the charges related to her “election, assumption to the Office of the Vice President, appointment as Secretary of Education, and her prior offices as Mayor and Vice Mayor of Davao City." The justice panel was required by the Constitution to submit a report "with the corresponding resolution" to the House within 60 session days after the complaint’s referral. Luistro had announced that the committee would transmit the documents to the House on May 4. "After giving them reasonable time to study the articles of impeachment and all the documents, the plenary should be ready to vote. As to when, it will depend on the plenary," she said. Luistro said she anticipates “a heated debate" in the plenary before the House votes on whether to send the impeachment articles to the Senate. "The probable cause vote was already 53 votes. So what we need is only 106 votes to impeach," Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the Justice Committee, said during a news forum on Saturday. "I think that is a number that will not be difficult to surmount and reach," Ridon said. "As soon as we are done at the level of the plenary, I think within two weeks we can transmit to the Senate," he said. Luistro said the committee's work reflected a careful, evidence-based process. "This is not about politics," she stressed. Duterte's defense team said last Wednesday that the committee's finding probable cause for impeachment was "not unexpected, given the direction the proceedings had taken." Luistro stressed that the hearing was “clarificatory” in nature, “intended for the determination of probable cause, not for the purpose of determining the guilt or innocence of the respondent." Last week, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that the chamber might convene as an impeachment court on May 13 if the House of Representatives impeaches Duterte on May 11. "Let's say they approve [the articles on impeachment] on May 11, [they will transmit it on] May 12. [The Senate should] discuss it already on May 13 and convene as impeachment court," Sotto said. The Senate will resume session on May 4 after a monthlong break. "The Senate must be in session to receive [the AI]," the senator said.
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