House justice panel to continue hearings despite SC petitions

The House Committee on Justice remains unfazed by petitions filed before the Supreme Court seeking to halt the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V said.

The La Union lawmaker, who endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint, said the proceedings are being conducted in accordance with the Constitution and House rules.

“Hindi kami naaapektuhan ng mga petisyon. Tuloy ang proseso hangga’t walang utos na pumipigil dito,” Ortega said in a statement.

(We are not affected by the petitions. The process continues as long as there is no order stopping it.)

“The committee remains unperturbed. We will proceed based on the Constitution, the rules, and the evidence before us,” he added.

Duterte and a group of lawyers earlier asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the House of Representatives and its justice panel to stop the impeachment hearings.

A separate petition was later filed by 17 individuals, who also sought to be included as petitioners and asked the High Court to issue a TRO to halt the proceedings.

Further, Ortega said the hearings give the Vice President an opportunity to respond to the allegations.

“Ito na ang pagkakataon para maipresenta ang kanyang panig. Kung sinasabi niyang inosente siya, narito ang tamang forum para patunayan iyon,” he said.

(This is the opportunity to present her side. If she claims she is innocent, this is the proper forum to prove it.)

Duterte has yet to appear before the House panel since the hearings began. The committee earlier warned that her continued absence may constitute a constitutional violation.—MCG, GMA News