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Advocates Philippines
Luistro Says Justice Panel Stayed Course In VP Duterte Impeachment Case
Photo credit: Congress PH
Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, chair of the House Committee on Justice, has defended the panel’s handling of the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the committee never rushed, took shortcuts, or wavered despite mounting pressure from different fronts.
In her opening statement during the May 4 hearing, Luistro stressed that the committee remained firmly grounded in constitutional procedure even as it faced petitions before the Supreme Court, complaints filed with a city prosecutor, and repeated press conferences from Duterte’s camp.
“Sinunod natin ang Konstitusyon. Hindi tayo nagmadali; hindi tayo nag-shortcut,” Luistro said, emphasizing that the panel deliberately followed due process from start to finish.
According to her, every stage of the proceedings was handled with caution and accountability, especially since the committee was dealing with allegations against the country’s second highest official. She described the process as one that demanded careful judgment at every step.
Luistro recounted how the hearings unfolded over several weeks, beginning with the determination of sufficiency in form on March 2, followed by sufficiency in substance on March 4, and a finding of sufficient grounds on March 18. The panel then proceeded with preliminary matters and subpoenas on March 25 before holding marathon evidentiary hearings in April.
These hearings, held on April 14, April 22, and April 29, involved the presentation and examination of evidence and testimonies from various resource persons.
“We heard the evidence. We examined the evidence,” Luistro said, noting that while the process was long and exhausting, it remained focused and disciplined throughout.
She acknowledged that the committee experienced pressure, fatigue, and criticism from outside the hearing room, especially as legal challenges and public statements from the Vice President’s camp emerged alongside the proceedings.
But despite these distractions, Luistro insisted the committee stayed on course.
“Hindi tayo naligaw. Nanatili tayong may direksyon,” she said, adding that the panel never lost sight of its constitutional duty.
Luistro also reminded her colleagues that the House Committee on Justice holds a unique responsibility under the Constitution, tasked not only with fairness to complainants and the respondent but also with accountability to the Filipino people.
She said the May 4 session marked a crucial step as the committee finalized its report and articles of impeachment before transmitting them to the plenary.
“Because we owe it to the next generation of Filipinos to show them that no one, no matter how powerful, is above the law,” Luistro said as she urged her colleagues to allow the process to reach its proper conclusion.
She ended with a pointed reminder of the stakes involved, saying the outcome should ultimately rest on truth and due process.
“If the Vice President is guilty, let the truth convict her. If she is innocent, let the process clear her,” Luistro concluded.
In her opening statement during the May 4 hearing, Luistro stressed that the committee remained firmly grounded in constitutional procedure even as it faced petitions before the Supreme Court, complaints filed with a city prosecutor, and repeated press conferences from Duterte’s camp.
“Sinunod natin ang Konstitusyon. Hindi tayo nagmadali; hindi tayo nag-shortcut,” Luistro said, emphasizing that the panel deliberately followed due process from start to finish.
According to her, every stage of the proceedings was handled with caution and accountability, especially since the committee was dealing with allegations against the country’s second highest official. She described the process as one that demanded careful judgment at every step.
Luistro recounted how the hearings unfolded over several weeks, beginning with the determination of sufficiency in form on March 2, followed by sufficiency in substance on March 4, and a finding of sufficient grounds on March 18. The panel then proceeded with preliminary matters and subpoenas on March 25 before holding marathon evidentiary hearings in April.
These hearings, held on April 14, April 22, and April 29, involved the presentation and examination of evidence and testimonies from various resource persons.
“We heard the evidence. We examined the evidence,” Luistro said, noting that while the process was long and exhausting, it remained focused and disciplined throughout.
She acknowledged that the committee experienced pressure, fatigue, and criticism from outside the hearing room, especially as legal challenges and public statements from the Vice President’s camp emerged alongside the proceedings.
But despite these distractions, Luistro insisted the committee stayed on course.
“Hindi tayo naligaw. Nanatili tayong may direksyon,” she said, adding that the panel never lost sight of its constitutional duty.
Luistro also reminded her colleagues that the House Committee on Justice holds a unique responsibility under the Constitution, tasked not only with fairness to complainants and the respondent but also with accountability to the Filipino people.
She said the May 4 session marked a crucial step as the committee finalized its report and articles of impeachment before transmitting them to the plenary.
“Because we owe it to the next generation of Filipinos to show them that no one, no matter how powerful, is above the law,” Luistro said as she urged her colleagues to allow the process to reach its proper conclusion.
She ended with a pointed reminder of the stakes involved, saying the outcome should ultimately rest on truth and due process.
“If the Vice President is guilty, let the truth convict her. If she is innocent, let the process clear her,” Luistro concluded.
May 4, 2026
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