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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider What happens if VP Duterte sends her lawyers to impeachment hearings?

What happens if VP Duterte sends her lawyers to impeachment hearings?

Published Feb 24, 2026 08:18 pm

At A Glance

  • House Committee on Justice Chairperson Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville 'Jinky Bitrics" Luistro clarified on Tuesday, Feb. 24 that no House rule explicitly allows the participation of a respondent's lawyers in impeachment hearings.
Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook).
Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook).


House Committee on Justice Chairperson Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville 'Jinky Bitrics" Luistro clarified on Tuesday, Feb. 24 that no House rule explicitly allows the participation of a respondent's lawyers in impeachment hearings.
“Wala po sa rules ang participation ng lawyers (The rules don't provide for the participation of lawyers). It will only be the members of the justice committee who will participate in the deliberation,” Luistro said in a chance interview.
According to the second-term legislator, any request from the Vice President’s lawyers would be subjected to the justice panel members' collective decision.
“But if in case there will be intention on the part of the lawyers of the Vice President, this will be decided upon by the members,” Luistro noted.
The justice panel has scheduled March 2 to 4 as the first wave of public hearings on the recently-initiated impeachment proceedings against Duterte. Four impeachment complaints were lodged against the official at the House of Representatives earlier this month.
Judging by Duterte's recent history with the House of Representatives--which impeached her last year, but failed to unseat her--the Vice President may not be keen on attending proceedings in the chamber.
At any rate, Luistro underscored that Duterte’s presence in the hearings was optional.
Asked if skipping the hearings could work against the Vice President, Luistro answered: “If she doesn’t come, that only means that she is waiving her right.”
Luistro was supposed to be part of the House prosecution team against Duterte, had the Senate impeachment trial against the latter pushed through last year.
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