House Committee on Justice member, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon says that lawyers and allies of Vice President Sara Duterte "have absolutely no legal personality" to challenge before the Supreme Court (SC) the lady official's ongoing impeachment case.

Ridon had this to say on Friday afternoon, March 27, mere hours after a group led by lawyer Israelito Torreon filed a petition for certiorari with prayer for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the justice panel's impeachment proceedings against Duterte.

Reports said the petition was filed by Torreon not as part of the legal team of the Vice President, but "as a taxpayer".

"Their claim of taxpayer status as basis for standing is misplaced. Taxpayer suits are recognized only in cases involving the illegal disbursement of public funds. No such disbursement is involved in impeachment proceedings," said Ridon, himself a lawyer.

"This petition is a clear diversionary tactic designed to deflect from the impeachment proceedings now underway against the Vice President," noted the party-list congressman.

"The petition will not stop the resolve of the House Committee on Justice to exact accountability for the serious allegations against her, including the misuse of confidential funds, the issuance of death threats against the President and other public officials, and unexplained wealth and related violations," Ridon said, alluding to the contents of the two remaining impeachment complaints against Duterte.

He vowed that the justice panel "will proceed with the impeachment hearings as scheduled and we will continue to discharge our constitutional mandate until the conclusion of the proceedings".

"This is not a fishing expedition. What we have is an impeachable official who continues to evade accountability," Ridon said.

Last Wednesday, March 25, the committee chaired by Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro ordered the issuance of several subpoenas that were meant to move the panel discussions forward. Currently, hearings are being held for the determination of probable cause in the impeachment case.

"This includes the issuance of subpoenas covering the Vice President’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs), as well as tax, corporate, and banking records relating to the Duterte-Carpio couple and their business interests," Ridon said.

"The subpoena of documents relevant to the grounds for impeachment is well within the authority of the House Committee on Justice under the 1987 Constitution and the House Rules on Impeachment, both of which expressly allow the conduct of hearings in aid of impeachment proceedings," he said.

In a separate statement Friday, Luistro said: "We reaffirm our full respect for the [SC] as the final arbiter of constitutional and legal questions. We will abide by any lawful order it may issue."

"At the same time, the Constitution is equally clear in vesting upon the House of Representatives the sole power to initiate impeachment cases. This is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and one we are duty-bound to carry out faithfully," she added.

Luistro assured the public that the House of Representatives "remains focused on both accountability and governance".

"Our legislative work continues, even as we fulfill our constitutional duties in the impeachment process," she said.