House justice panel preparing report on VP Sara impeachment case

The committee report of the House Committee on Justice that will contain the resolution and Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte is now being drafted.

This was confirmed today by panel chairperson Rep. Gerville Luistro and committee member Rep. Joel Chua.

"Ito po ay nilalatag nang maayos (This is being laid out properly)," Chua said in an online interview.

The committee report is scheduled to be approved on Monday, May 4, on the same day that the House of Representatives resumes session.

When asked if the grounds will be laid out in the committee report in the chronological order as it was discussed in the committee hearings, Chua replied, "Siguro sa Lunes, malalaman po ninyo dahil hindi ko pa po pwedeng sabihin na ito na po ang final dahil yun po ay aaprubahan pa po ng bawat miyembro ng committee sa Lunes." (You will know on Monday. We cannot divulge the final copy.)

Once the committee report is approved, Luistro said that they will transmit it immediately to the plenary.

The Rules on Impeachment provide that "the Committee on Rules shall calendar the report and the accompanying resolution of the Justice committee regarding the disposition of the complaint in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives.

The House shall dispose of the report within sixty (60) session days from its submission by the Committee on Justice."

At least one-third of the members of the House, or 106 are needed to approve the resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment.

If approved, it will be endorsed to the Senate.

Justice committee member Rep. Terry Ridon of the Bicol Saro Party-list said many party-list representatives will support the impeachment.

"Doon sa mga party-list, more than half of them would most definitely support impeaching the vice president," Ridon said in an online interview today.

House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said political parties are holding their own meetings.

Garin, a member of the Lakas CMD, said her party has conducted "two or three meetings" already. Lakas CMD is composed of 81 members of the House.

"Ang pinag-uusapan naman siyempre doon sa meeting is sino yung sang-ayon, sino yung hindi. Para naiintindihan ng partido yung stand," Garin said in an online interview today.

When asked what her party's stand on the issue is, Garin replied, "It's a conscience vote. Walang magiging stand ang partido kundi depende doon sa mga miyembro kung ano ang kanilang paniniwala at kung ano ang kanilang interpretasyon, sang-ayon doon sa mga narinig during the deliberations under the Committee on Justice. So again, walang sapilitan kasi ganun talaga yon."

Garin also revealed that two-thirds of the members of Lakas CMD will most likely vote in favor of the impeachment while one-third may not.

"Kapag ang distrito mo ay nasa Mindanao, minsan kailangan mong balansehin... Meron din iba na mga nagsasabi na initially okay pero merong factor kasi may mga groups with influence na or let's say merong mga kumakausap din sa kanila to protect the vice president," Garin said.—LDF, GMA News