House panel subpoenas Ombudsman Remulla over Sara Duterte SALNs

The House justice panel on Monday sought the testimony of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla for the ongoing impeachment hearing against Vice President Sara Duterte, specifically about her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

In a subpoena ad testificandum et duces tecum, the House justice panel chaired by Batangas Second District Rep. Gerville Luistro, directed Remulla to appear before the committee on April 14, 10 a.m., at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.

Remulla is also directed to bring documents including the following SALNs of the Vice President:

• 2007 to 2013
• 2016 to 2022 and
• 2022 to 2025

"You (Remulla) are likewise informed that you have the right to be accompanied by legal counsel during the proceedings; however, such counsel shall be limited to an advisory role and shall not be permitted to speak or otherwise participate in the proceedings," the subpoena read.

"Failure to comply with this order is subject to penalty under the law," it added.

Should Remulla require a conference with a representative of the committee prior to the date of the submission, the House justice panel said he could reach out to Atty. Maria Vivian E. Banayad, OIC committee secretary.

“The documents are sought for the committee to be apprised of the assets, liabilities and net worth declared by Vice President Sara Z. Duterte from the time she started public service until the present,” the House justice panel added in a separate statement. 

There are two pending impeachment complaints against the Vice President:

• the verified impeachment complaint filed by Reverend Father Joel Saballa and others and endorsed by House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Leila de Lima and
• the verified impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera endorsed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. and Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union.

The two impeachment complaints accuse Duterte of committing betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, among others, over the following: 

• alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential fund and using them as bribes 
• threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and his family, 
• alleged accumulation of unexplained wealth.

—AOL, GMA News