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Advocates Philippines
Luistro Stands Firm; Justice Panel Ready To Defend Case Against VP Duterte
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Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro made it clear on Thursday that the panel is fully prepared to stand by—and defend—its unanimous finding of probable cause against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Speaking in an interview on Unang Hirit, Luistro said the committee’s role has now shifted. From simply reviewing evidence, they are now stepping into the responsibility of upholding the case they’ve endorsed.
According to her, the panel’s position is now official and firm: there is probable cause. And if the House plenary affirms that finding, the next step would be to carry the case forward—potentially all the way to a Senate trial.
Luistro, a lawyer and chair of the committee, explained that their initial mandate was straightforward: determine whether enough evidence exists. After a unanimous vote, she said, that question has already been answered.
She also emphasized that throughout the hearings, the committee made a conscious effort to stay neutral. Acting much like investigators in a preliminary probe, they focused on the process—not on taking sides.
Now, however, the situation has changed.
With the finding in place, the panel is expected to defend its conclusion and, if needed, prosecute the case should it move forward in the impeachment process.
Luistro also pushed back against claims that lawmakers or their staff were being pressured to support the impeachment effort. She said she has not personally encountered any such attempts.
On the issue of constitutionality, she acknowledged that challenges from the defense team were expected from the very beginning. Petitions have already been filed before the Supreme Court, and even criminal complaints have been lodged against some members of the committee—including herself.
Still, Luistro stressed that none of these legal moves will stop the process unless the courts say so.
As she put it, without a temporary restraining order or any injunction in place, the committee sees it as its constitutional duty to move forward with the impeachment proceedings.
Speaking in an interview on Unang Hirit, Luistro said the committee’s role has now shifted. From simply reviewing evidence, they are now stepping into the responsibility of upholding the case they’ve endorsed.
According to her, the panel’s position is now official and firm: there is probable cause. And if the House plenary affirms that finding, the next step would be to carry the case forward—potentially all the way to a Senate trial.
Luistro, a lawyer and chair of the committee, explained that their initial mandate was straightforward: determine whether enough evidence exists. After a unanimous vote, she said, that question has already been answered.
She also emphasized that throughout the hearings, the committee made a conscious effort to stay neutral. Acting much like investigators in a preliminary probe, they focused on the process—not on taking sides.
Now, however, the situation has changed.
With the finding in place, the panel is expected to defend its conclusion and, if needed, prosecute the case should it move forward in the impeachment process.
Luistro also pushed back against claims that lawmakers or their staff were being pressured to support the impeachment effort. She said she has not personally encountered any such attempts.
On the issue of constitutionality, she acknowledged that challenges from the defense team were expected from the very beginning. Petitions have already been filed before the Supreme Court, and even criminal complaints have been lodged against some members of the committee—including herself.
Still, Luistro stressed that none of these legal moves will stop the process unless the courts say so.
As she put it, without a temporary restraining order or any injunction in place, the committee sees it as its constitutional duty to move forward with the impeachment proceedings.
Apr 30, 2026
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