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Advocates Philippines
Luistro Says VP Camp's Senate Stance Hints Case Is Already Moving Forward
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Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro isn’t mincing words. For the House Justice Committee chair, the latest position of Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp may be saying more than it intends.
As the panel resumed its April 29 hearing, Luistro pointed to the Vice President’s lawyers saying she is ready to answer—but only before the Senate. For Luistro, that raises a telling question: if the defense is saving its answers for a possible trial, does that mean the case has already crossed the threshold at the House level?
In her opening remarks, Luistro said the stance doesn’t directly challenge the evidence already on record. Instead, she noted, it shifts the discussion to timing, venue, and process.
She laid it out plainly: first, the camp declared readiness to face the Senate; second, it urged caution; and third, it filed a new complaint against the committee. Taken together, Luistro said, these moves appear to sidestep the substance of the evidence presented so far.
That evidence includes the Vice President’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, reports from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, corporate records from the Securities and Exchange Commission, and portions of a sworn statement by Antonio Trillanes IV.
Luistro stressed the committee will stay focused on its constitutional duty—determining whether there is enough basis to move the impeachment process forward, not to rule on guilt.
“At this point, we continue the hearing,” she said, emphasizing that the panel will not be distracted by outside pressure or messaging.
She also underscored what she sees as a contrast in tone: while the Vice President’s camp calls for caution, the committee, she said, is calling for truth.
For Luistro, the proceedings have already entered what she described as the stage of “forensic truth,” where official records—not rhetoric—carry the weight.
She cited figures discussed in earlier hearings, including SALN data showing Duterte’s net worth rising from ₱34 million in 2016 to ₱88 million in 2024, alongside declarations of zero cash or deposits in recent years. She also pointed to AMLC findings involving hundreds of transactions, including those flagged as suspicious, amounting to billions of pesos.
Where the evidence leads, Luistro said, the committee will follow—no matter how far or how difficult the path.
As the panel resumed its April 29 hearing, Luistro pointed to the Vice President’s lawyers saying she is ready to answer—but only before the Senate. For Luistro, that raises a telling question: if the defense is saving its answers for a possible trial, does that mean the case has already crossed the threshold at the House level?
In her opening remarks, Luistro said the stance doesn’t directly challenge the evidence already on record. Instead, she noted, it shifts the discussion to timing, venue, and process.
She laid it out plainly: first, the camp declared readiness to face the Senate; second, it urged caution; and third, it filed a new complaint against the committee. Taken together, Luistro said, these moves appear to sidestep the substance of the evidence presented so far.
That evidence includes the Vice President’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, reports from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, corporate records from the Securities and Exchange Commission, and portions of a sworn statement by Antonio Trillanes IV.
Luistro stressed the committee will stay focused on its constitutional duty—determining whether there is enough basis to move the impeachment process forward, not to rule on guilt.
“At this point, we continue the hearing,” she said, emphasizing that the panel will not be distracted by outside pressure or messaging.
She also underscored what she sees as a contrast in tone: while the Vice President’s camp calls for caution, the committee, she said, is calling for truth.
For Luistro, the proceedings have already entered what she described as the stage of “forensic truth,” where official records—not rhetoric—carry the weight.
She cited figures discussed in earlier hearings, including SALN data showing Duterte’s net worth rising from ₱34 million in 2016 to ₱88 million in 2024, alongside declarations of zero cash or deposits in recent years. She also pointed to AMLC findings involving hundreds of transactions, including those flagged as suspicious, amounting to billions of pesos.
Where the evidence leads, Luistro said, the committee will follow—no matter how far or how difficult the path.
Apr 29, 2026
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