Impeachment proceedings revealed 'body of evidence' vs. VP Sara —Luistro

The impeachment proceeding being conducted by the House committee on justice has unearthed a "body of evidence" against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to House justice panel chairperson and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro. 

Luistro made the pronouncement on Wednesday as the panel resumed the impeachment proceedings, a week after detainee Ramil Madriaga, the Commission on Audit, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Statistics Authority were presented in the last hearing. 

LIVE UPDATES: VP Sara Duterte impeachment hearing (April 22, 2026)

At the opening of Wednesday's hearing, Luistro cited the following "body of evidence":

• Madriaga’s account of disbursing P125 million worth of confidential funds of the Vice President within 24 hours with cash deliveries in Laguna, Quezon City and the Office of the Ombudsman
• Madriaga signing a bank waiver to prove that he has nothing to hide
• Madriaga alleging that the Vice President’s election campaign may have been financed by Pharmally which has been linked to anomalous government procurement 
• COA revealing that the notice of disallowance on the P73 million confidential fund in 2022 was upheld by the COA Commission Proper
• The NBI representatives testifying that signatures in acknowledgment receipts of recipients of confidential funds
• COA’s Gloria Camora, a lawyer of  COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office, confirming that COA also issued three notice of disallowance on three releases of confidential fund for the OVP in 2023 worth P125 million each and P375 million in total 
• the testimonies of various resource persons, regarding the “envelopes” and the questionable receipts, and other statements given in that legislative inquiry, are now officially part of this impeachment process during the 2024 House inquiry on the budget use of the OVP and
• the PSA testifying that recipients of confidential fund such as Mary Grace Piattos, Milky Secuya and Kokoy Villamin do not have records in the country’s civil registry. 

“What we saw was not a single piece of evidence—but a body of evidence. Hindi paisa-isa, kundi magkakaugnay,” Luistro said.

(Not individually, but evidence that are connected.)

“This proves that there was a pattern, and it raises even more questions about who was really behind these documents. Magkakaiba ang mga pangalan, ngunit iisa ang pirma,” she added.

(The names may be different, but the signature belongs to one person.)

'Proper forum'

The Vice President was again a no-show during Wednesday's proceeding. 

Luistro called out Duterte for failing to address these allegations by focusing on Madriaga’s claims of her supposed struggles in law school, saying that such comments made outside of the impeachment proceedings do not have weight and do not dispute the allegations.

“Instead of addressing the core issues, the focus shifted to a peripheral matter—the academic performance of the vice president—when the grave allegations concerning confidential fund use, documents, and transactions are left unanswered," Luistro said.

“Let me be clear: this committee will not take anything at face value—whether said inside this hall or outside of it. We will evaluate everything…Madriaga’s testimony, COA documents, NBI findings, PSA certifications…because truth cannot be found in a press release. It is anchored on sworn statements and other documents. Pero dapat dito humarap ang kailangang humarap, manumpa at magpaliwanag,” Luistro said.

“Because this is the proper forum. Hindi sapat ang magsalita sa labas. If there is anything to clarify, the best—and the only—place to do that is here, before this committee, under oath, and on record,” Luistro added.

“Kung ayaw magsalita ng tao, kung ayaw humarap ng Bise Presidente, hayaan natin na ang mga numero ang magkwento,” Luistro added.

(If a person does not want to speak, we will let the numbers do the talking.)

Duterte previously called out the House proceedings, saying the so-called mini trial reflected “abuse and corruption” among some members of the committee on justice.

“This mini-trial… is true to form for some of its members: abuse and corruption appear to be the only things they are capable of,” Duterte said.

Duterte further alleged that ongoing political processes, including impeachment efforts, are being used for political maneuvering rather than accountability.

'Unexplained wealth'

The House justice panel on Wednesday will deliberate on the Vice President’s wealth statement, her individual tax returns and businesses linked to her, personal bank transactions and that of her husband, as well as their businesses, among others, during Wednesday’s impeachment proceedings.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV arrived Wednesday at the House of Representatives to attend the hearing.

The House justice committee asked Trillanes to submit “original or certified true copies of documents in connection with the allegations in the impeachment complaints of unexplained wealth.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla were also present for the hearing which started at 10 a.m. 

Also expected to attend is Anti-Money Laundering Council chairman and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Eli Remolona Jr.  —VAL, GMA News