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Advocates Philippines
VP Sara Files Reply To Impeachment Complaints Before House Justice Panel
FILE
Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday formally submitted her response to two impeachment complaints pending before the House of Representatives, marking a key step in the preliminary proceedings being conducted by lawmakers.
The reply, described as a “Consolidated Answer Ad Cautelam,” was filed at around 4:30 p.m. on March 16 before the chamber’s House Committee on Justice.
Terry Ridon, representative of the Bicol Saro Party-list and a member of the committee, confirmed the filing.
“The Consolidated Answer Ad Cautelam of Vice President Sara Duterte was filed before the House Committee on Justice today, March 16, 2026 at 4:30 PM,” Ridon said.
Lawmaker reacts to submission
Ridon criticized the document, saying the vice president’s camp appeared to have avoided directly addressing the allegations raised in the impeachment complaints.
“Parang hindi sagot, nagpapalusot lang 'yung kampo ni vice president Duterte,” the lawmaker said.
He also described the filing as “walang laman,” claiming that the vice president’s legal team focused instead on questioning the authority of the Justice Committee and the validity of the impeachment complaints.
However, the remarks reflect Ridon’s personal assessment. The full contents and legal arguments of the filing have not yet been widely discussed in public reports.
Complaints under review
The impeachment complaints are currently under preliminary evaluation by the House Justice Committee, which determines whether the cases are sufficient in form and substance before they can move forward in the impeachment process.
Under the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, impeachment proceedings against top officials—including the president, vice president, justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and members of constitutional commissions—begin in the House of Representatives.
If a complaint is found sufficient and receives the support of at least one-third of House members, it may be transmitted to the Senate of the Philippines, which then acts as the impeachment court and decides whether to convict or acquit the official.
Meaning of “Ad Cautelam”
Legal observers note that the phrase “ad cautelam” means “out of caution.” In legal practice, it allows a respondent to submit an answer while still questioning the authority of the body handling the case or the validity of the proceedings.
By filing such a response, Duterte’s legal team may be seeking to comply with procedural requirements without conceding the jurisdiction of the House panel.
Next steps in the process
The House Justice Committee is expected to continue deliberating on the impeachment complaints in the coming weeks as lawmakers determine whether the cases against the vice president will move forward in the constitutional process.
If the proceedings advance to the Senate, it could lead to a full impeachment trial—an event that historically carries significant political consequences in the Philippines.
The reply, described as a “Consolidated Answer Ad Cautelam,” was filed at around 4:30 p.m. on March 16 before the chamber’s House Committee on Justice.
Terry Ridon, representative of the Bicol Saro Party-list and a member of the committee, confirmed the filing.
“The Consolidated Answer Ad Cautelam of Vice President Sara Duterte was filed before the House Committee on Justice today, March 16, 2026 at 4:30 PM,” Ridon said.
Lawmaker reacts to submission
Ridon criticized the document, saying the vice president’s camp appeared to have avoided directly addressing the allegations raised in the impeachment complaints.
“Parang hindi sagot, nagpapalusot lang 'yung kampo ni vice president Duterte,” the lawmaker said.
He also described the filing as “walang laman,” claiming that the vice president’s legal team focused instead on questioning the authority of the Justice Committee and the validity of the impeachment complaints.
However, the remarks reflect Ridon’s personal assessment. The full contents and legal arguments of the filing have not yet been widely discussed in public reports.
Complaints under review
The impeachment complaints are currently under preliminary evaluation by the House Justice Committee, which determines whether the cases are sufficient in form and substance before they can move forward in the impeachment process.
Under the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, impeachment proceedings against top officials—including the president, vice president, justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and members of constitutional commissions—begin in the House of Representatives.
If a complaint is found sufficient and receives the support of at least one-third of House members, it may be transmitted to the Senate of the Philippines, which then acts as the impeachment court and decides whether to convict or acquit the official.
Meaning of “Ad Cautelam”
Legal observers note that the phrase “ad cautelam” means “out of caution.” In legal practice, it allows a respondent to submit an answer while still questioning the authority of the body handling the case or the validity of the proceedings.
By filing such a response, Duterte’s legal team may be seeking to comply with procedural requirements without conceding the jurisdiction of the House panel.
Next steps in the process
The House Justice Committee is expected to continue deliberating on the impeachment complaints in the coming weeks as lawmakers determine whether the cases against the vice president will move forward in the constitutional process.
If the proceedings advance to the Senate, it could lead to a full impeachment trial—an event that historically carries significant political consequences in the Philippines.
Mar 16, 2026
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