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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House justice panel serves notice to VP Duterte, seeks answer to impeachment raps

House justice panel serves notice to VP Duterte, seeks answer to impeachment raps

Published Mar 5, 2026 12:59 pm  |  Updated Mar 5, 2026 01:01 pm

At A Glance

  • The House Committee on Justice on Thursday morning, March 5 formally served a notice directing Vice President Sara Duterte to respond to two verified impeachment complaints that the panel had earlier found to be sufficient in form and in substance.
The Notice to Respondent from the House Committee on Justice (Contributed photo)
The Notice to Respondent from the House Committee on Justice (Contributed photo)


The House Committee on Justice on Thursday morning, March 5 formally served a notice directing Vice President Sara Duterte to respond to two verified impeachment complaints that the panel had earlier found to be sufficient in form and in substance.
In a “Notice to Respondent” dated March 4, 2026 addressed to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) at Cybergate Plaza in Mandaluyong City, the committee ordered Duterte to submit her verified answer within a fixed period under the House rules on impeachment proceedings.
“Accordingly, you are hereby directed to file your Verified Answer to the abovementioned complaints within a NON-EXTENDIBLE period of ten (10) calendar days from receipt of this Notice, and to serve a copy of your Verified Answer upon the complainants within the same period as required under Sec. 6 of the Rules,” the notice read.
The document was signed by House Committee on Justice Chairperson Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro.
It was received by the OVP at 10:44 a.m. on Thursday.
The notice cited the panel’s earlier determination declaring the impeachment complaints sufficient in form and substance pursuant to Sections 4 and 5, Rule III of the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings of the House of Representatives.
Two verified complaints were specifically identified in the document: “In the Matter of the Impeachment of Sara Zimmerman Duterte as Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines,” filed by Reverend Father Joel Saballa et al., and “In the Matter of the Impeachment of the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, Sara Zimmerman Duterte,” filed by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera.
The notice warned that failure to respond within the prescribed period would have legal consequences.
“Failure on your part to file the Verified Answer within the period herein provided shall be deemed a waiver of your right to file the same, and you shall be considered to have interposed a general denial to the allegations contained in the Impeachment Complaints,” it stated.
The House panel also informed the Vice President that copies of the impeachment complaints were enclosed with the notice.
Under the House rules on impeachment, the respondent is required to file a verified answer before the committee proceeds to the next stage of deliberations on the complaints.
The Saballa et al complaint and Cabrera complaint were deemed sufficient in substance during a justice panel hearing Wednesday. Last Monday, both impeachment raps were deemed sufficient in form.
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