The House Committee on Justice has completed the intial stage of public hearings in its ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Two of the four verified and endorsed impeachment complaints have been found sufficient in form and in substance, and this was enough to trigger the next step--the sending of a notice to Duterte so she may answer in writing the impeachable offenses lodged against her.

The justice panel hearings have produced passionate and at times unexpected discussions among the participating congressmen, leading to some quotable statements that may or may not have direct connection to Duterte’s impeachment.

Here are five of them in no particular order:

1. "Lastly, alam niyo minsan, nasa Shangri-La ako, nakita ko si Anne Curtis, ang ganda-ganda pala niya. You know, may desire sa loob ko na, nag-init talaga, na-imagine ko na lang kung ano’ng pwedeng mangyari. Pero syempre hanggang imagination na lang ‘yon. Pero ‘di naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan kung ano ang na-imagine ko eh."

(Lastly, you know, one time I was at Shangri-La and I saw Anne Curtis, she’s really beautiful. Honestly, I felt a strong desire inside, I got heated, and I just imagined what could happen. But of course, it stayed only in my imagination. And I don’t think I could be charged for something I only imagined.)

Who said it: Quezon City 4th district Rep. Jesus "Bong" Suntay

Why he said it: Suntay wanted to illustrate that a person cannot be held liable for mere thoughts, imaginations, or associations without an avert act. Ergo, Vice President Duterte cannot be impeached for act that she merely imagined or claimed she wanted to do, but didn't do.

2. “Nangyari po ‘yun sa amin (That happened to us). In the same way, when the VP reportedly made statements implying harm to the President, the First Lady and the former Speaker, those statements are serious even if raised as conditional. Kasi (Because) words from someone in her position carry weight."

Who said it: Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Janice Degamo

Why she said it: This was Degamo's response to Suntay's assertion that Vice President Duterte’s death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez weren't serious. "Why would you announce that you would kill someone if you really intend to kill someone? Common sense dictates otherwise."

Degamo was the widow of the late former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, who was gunned down by armed men outside their home last March 4, 2023. The congresswoman said her husband received death threats beforehand, and that they caused "intimidation" and "harm" to her family.

3. “I beg to disagree [that there is no smoking gun). The video containing the Vice President's threat to kill the President, the First Lady and then House Speaker, as well as the media interview where she affirmed it is a smoking gun...The numerous documents evidencing payments or the debts with fictitious names are smoking guns."

Who said it: Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima

Why she said it: As the endorser of Joel Saballa et al complaint filed against Duterte, De Lima sought to disabuse the minds of the public of claims that the case against the Vice President was weak. The former senator highlighted the alleged death threat against the three officials, as well as the supposed misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd).

4. "Magbibigay na lang po ako ng ilustrasyon, logic lang po ito. Mayroong dalawang kamay natin, for example ito yung Vice President (right), ito yung secretary of education (left). Ito yung parang binigay sa secretary of education na kasama ng kamay ng Vice President. Ang tanong ko ito, sino ba ang nag-iisip? Isa lang ang utak eh. Wala namang utak yung isang kamay, sa isang kamay. Isang utak lang po ang nagpapagana dito."

(I’ll just give an illustration, this is purely logic. Imagine our two hands: for example, the right hand is the Vice President, and the left hand is the secretary of education. It’s as if the secretary of education was given along with the hand of the Vice President. My question is: who’s really doing the thinking? There’s only one brain. A hand doesn’t have a brain. It’s only one brain that makes everything work.)we leave the world of premonitions behind. We are not fortune-tellers,"

Who said it: Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr.

Why he said it: This was Abante's counter to Suntay and Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez's argument that Vice President Duterte’s supposed offenses as DepEd secretary was outside the jurisdiction of the Committee on Justice, since the education secretary wasn't an impeachable officer.

Duterte concurrently held the position of DepEd chief from 2022 to 2024.

5. "We leave the world of premonitions behind. We are not fortune-tellers."

Who said it: Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro

Why she said it: Luistro, the justice committee chairperson, gave this as a rejoinder to SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Marcoleta's earlier attempt in the hearings to have Francis "Kiko" Aquino Dee of Tindig Pilipinas reprimanded by the panel on the matter of decorum. This, even if Dee--as part of the audience--was yet to do anything that was out of order.

Marcoleta said he sought the action based on a "premonition", and from "experience" of Dee's past actions at the Senate when the 2025 impeachment complaint against Duterte was archived. The party-list solon didn't get his way.