VP Sara Duterte's attendance at impeachment still uncertain

The House committee on justice said Tuesday that it has not received any feelers from the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte regarding her possible attendance in tomorrow's impeachment hearing. 

Committee Chair Gerville Luistro, however, is hopeful that the vice president will take this opportunity to challenge the allegations against her.

"Wala tayong nare-receive about the possibility of the Vice President attending our hearing tomorrow. But again, we are still hopeful kasi sabi ko nga, ang tagal na nitong mga katanungan na to, questions on the confidential fund, questions on the threat committed against the President, questions on unexplained wealth, I think it's about time na marinig na ng taong bayan ang kasagutan ng ating bise presidente," Luistro said in an interview this morning.

(We haven't received anything about the possibility of the Vice President attending our hearing tomorrow. But again, we are still hopeful because as I said, these questions have been going on for a long time, questions on the confidential fund, questions on the threat committed against the President, questions on unexplained wealth, I think it's about time the people hear the answer of our vice president.)

"It's actually her choice whether to come or not," she added.

Based on the draft rules for the hearing proper, which Luistro said is a work in progress, only members of the House Committee on Justice, the complainants, the respondent, and their witnesses can participate in the hearing.

"We just need to emphasize na for purposes of our hearing proper, the direct examination and the cross-examination are exclusive for the Justice members. At kagaya ng nasabi ko before, if ever the lawyers will be allowed to participate, the same are limited to assisting their respective clients," Luistro stated.

In case Duterte decides against attending the hearing proper, Luistro said that the scenario when the committee was deliberating on the sufficiency in grounds of the impeachment complaints against the vice president may be repeated.

During the said deliberation on March 18, 2026, several members of the committee moved to go directly to voting on the sufficiency in substance as they said there was nothing to deliberate on Duterte's Consolidated Verified Answer Ad Cautelam as it did not address the allegations one by one.

“Paano kung hindi dumating si VP, our respondent? Then they will not be able to present their evidence, their witnesses to counter the allegations of offenses and grounds,” Luistro said.

"Yung scenario doon sa determination of sufficiency in grounds, kung hindi darating ang Bise Presidente sa hearing proper, it is almost the same... And it will be, should I say, to the disadvantage of the vice president. Sayang yung opportunity na puwede niya sana i-question yung evidence na ilalatag ng complainants," she added.

(It's a waste of the opportunity he could have had to question the evidence presented by the complainants.)

When asked if the rules allow the Vice President to not be physically present but to submit documentary evidence through her lawyers, Luistro replied, “Well, that will be a matter which we will be soliciting the consensus of the justice members.”

“It needs to be presented kasi how are we going to understand if this evidence will just be sent? How would we know para saan bang offense or ground are these evidence being submitted," she said. 

In case Duterte does not attend tomorrow's hearing proper, Luistro said that she can still attend the other hearings in April.

"Yes. Actually, hanggat hindi natatapos yung hearing proper, we will keep on sending invitation to her so that at any point of the entire hearing proper, she can actually come," Luistro explained.

When asked if there was external pressure on the committee members, Luistro replied, "To be honest, wala talaga eh... Qala tayong nararamdaman, naririnig, o nae-experience na pressure about this impeachment proceeding."

(To be honest, there really isn't any... We don't feel, hear, or experience pressure about this impeachment proceeding.

Last week, Navotas City Rep Toby Tiangco filed a resolution for the House Committee on Justice to expedite the impeachment proceedings against Duterte so that the House of Representatives can focus on legislation to address the Middle East crisis.

In response, Luistro emphasized that they are "committed not to cause any delay" but that they "are not going to deviate any step of the rules of impeachment."