Photo credit: Congress PH

House members from the Duterte family will be allowed to take part in plenary debates on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte, according to House Committee on Justice chair Gerville Luistro.

Luistro said the upcoming House plenary will provide space for full discussion of the Articles of Impeachment, including participation from lawmakers who are related to the Vice President, as long as they follow the rules of debate.

“Well, there will be debate after the sponsorship speech. And I think everybody will be given the opportunity to participate in the debate,” Luistro said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

“I’m quite sure about that, the interpellation. But with respect to the explanation of vote, siguro iko-consider din ng rules kung ilan ang House members who are interested to explain their vote,” she added.

The clarification came after questions on whether Davao City Reps. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte and Omar Vincent Sangkola Duterte, along with PPP Party-list Rep. Harold Duterte, would be allowed to speak during deliberations on the impeachment complaint.

Luistro said lawmakers who want to challenge the findings of the Justice Committee may have a stronger platform during interpellations, where arguments can be directly addressed on the floor.

“This is actually a privilege which is given to the House members, but of course, kino-consider din, ilan ba ang gustong mag-explain ng kanilang position about the impeachment,” Luistro pointed out.

“Perhaps if they wish to participate, it’s better to participate in the interpellations so that the Filipino people will hear their arguments, which the Justice Committee will definitely respond,” she emphasized.

She also clarified that House proceedings are not being guided by any internal vote count or lobbying effort, stressing that each member will decide independently.

“Well, hindi. Sapagkat ang focus po natin is only on the proceeding. As a matter of fact, I will be standing in the plenary … this coming Monday,” Luistro noted.

“But I never preempted as to who will be voting in favor of the impeachment and who will not be voting in favor of the impeachment,” she added.

Luistro said her role is strictly limited to defending the findings of probable cause approved by the Justice Committee, which will be presented before the full House.

“In other words, my focus only is to defend the findings of probable cause of the Justice Committee,” Luistro explained.

“As to who will be voting to affirm the same, we’re leaving that up to the exclusive judgment of the members of the House of Representatives,” she added.

She also rejected claims that she has been actively campaigning for votes ahead of the plenary decision.

“No, I’m not campaigning,” Luistro clarified.

“I’m not campaigning in the sense that I don’t reach out to House members, I don’t call them, I don’t talk to them,” she continued.

Luistro said her appearance before the House plenary on Monday will be the formal opportunity to present and defend the committee’s report in front of all lawmakers.

“But of course the purpose of standing in the plenary this coming Monday is to defend the findings of the committee and to solicit the affirmation of the rest of the House members that the findings is correct, that the appreciation is correct, that this must be transmitted to the Senate for trial,” Luistro stressed.

“But other than that, I do not resort to other means to be able to communicate to the House members,” she added.

She emphasized that the plenary session will mark the first full public presentation of the impeachment report before the entire chamber.

“As a matter of fact, when I stand in the plenary this coming Monday, that will be the first time that I will be discussing it publicly to all the members of the House of Representatives,” Luistro stated.