Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro insisted that the House of Representatives' impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte were faultless following the Supreme Court's (SC) non-issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) agaisnt it.

“We maintain our position that all proceedings of the House Committee on Justice are fully constitutional,” Luistro, chairman of the panel, said in a statement Thursday, April 9.

The lawyer-solon underscored that the justice panel was “strictly following the rules of the House, the Constitution, and relevant [SC] rulings".

It was on Tuesday night, April 7 when committee member, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon confirmed that the camp of the Vice President filed a Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition filed before the SC, specifically to stop the impeachment proceedings.

“In the absence of a temporary restraining order (TRO), the committee will proceed as scheduled," Luistro said.

Specificically, the panel has the green light to carry out its scheduled hearings for the determination of probable cause on April 14, 22 and 29 in the absence of any court-issued restraint.

“The House impeachment proceedings are constitutional, rules-based, and anchored on accountability,” underscored the second-term congresswoman.

Luistro also downplayed issues raised by the Vice President’s camp before the high court, and described them as largely procedural.

“The issues being raised are largely technical in nature. What must be emphasized is the substantive right of the Filipino people to demand accountability,” Luistro said.

At any rate, the panel chairperson said she wasn't surprised by the legal moves of Vice President Duterte and her fleet of lawyers.

“The recent move by the Vice President’s camp was not unexpected. At any stage of impeachment proceedings, it is always possible for parties to elevate issues before the courts.”

Perhaps the two most anticipated witnesses in the upcoming panel hearings are alleged Duterte "bagman" Ramil Madriaga, and Duterte defense team member Michael Poa.

Ridon had confirmed that Madriaga--currently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City had been allowed by Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 21 to appear on the April 14 hearing.

This, after Presiding Judge Alma Crispina Collado-Lacorte granted the request of the Luistro panel to let the detainee join the proceedings.

Madriaga, whose affidavit is material to the impeachment complaints against Duterte--is facing charges for kidnapping. He is allegedly served as intelligence officer during the previous Duterte administration.

As for Poa, the committee has formally issued him a "subpoena ad testificandum", seeking his appearance at the same hearing next week.

Poa served as Department of Education (DepEd) chief-of-staff during Duterte’s concurrent stint as education secretary. She resigned from DepEd in June 2024.

During an October 2024 hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, Poa--when quizzed by congeessmen--stated that the responsibility for managing the DepEd’s confidential funds rested with Duterte.

The Vice President is being accused of misusing P612.5 million worth of confidential funds from DepEd and the Office of the Vice President (OVP), among other alleged impeachable offenses.

The subpoena also sought “[DepEd’s] submissions to the Commission on Audit (COA)” to allow lawmakers to review records linked to the spending and liquidation of confidential funds.

The panel says the documents are needed “for the committee to be apprised of the documents submitted to the [COA] relevant to the use and liquidation of confidential funds by the [DepEd]".