Duterte impeachment proceedings move forward

National

THE impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte have taken a significant step forward after the House Committee on Justice found both complaints against her to have “sufficient grounds.”

The decision allows the process to move into the next phase, which involves the formal presentation of evidence and witnesses, a report by Inquirer.net said.

The committee has scheduled the main hearing for March 25, where Duterte will be invited to attend.

Lawmakers clarified that this stage does not determine guilt or innocence. Instead, it seeks to establish whether there is enough basis to continue the impeachment process.

The complaints against Duterte include allegations of misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, and involvement in a plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte has denied the accusations, with her legal team arguing that the complaints lack solid evidence and are based on speculation.

The process was expedited after the complainants chose not to file a reply to Duterte’s response, allowing the committee to proceed directly to evaluating the sufficiency of grounds.

Following the March 25 hearing, additional dates have been set for the presentation of evidence and witnesses on April 14, April 22, and April 29.

Under House rules, impeachment cases go through several stages, including review of the complaint, assessment of its basis, hearings, and eventually a recommendation to the full House.(Georgia Olivar, USJ-R Comm Intern)