Photo credit: Sara Duterte

The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte questioned the House Committee on Justice after lawmakers found probable cause in the impeachment complaints filed against her, saying the outcome was already expected based on how the proceedings had unfolded.

The Duterte camp argued that the committee went beyond its constitutional role during the hearings. The defense team said the proceedings should have remained limited to the verified complaints and supporting documents, but instead expanded into issues that they believe should only be tackled during a full trial.

The group maintained that the process departed from the constitutional design of impeachment proceedings and raised concerns over how the inquiry was conducted.

The statement came shortly after the House Committee on Justice voted to move forward with the impeachment complaints against the vice president, marking another major development in the politically charged case.

The impeachment complaints against Duterte are part of a broader controversy that has drawn national attention in recent months, further fueling political tensions within the country’s leadership.