The impeachment defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, April 29, said the House panel’s finding of probable cause in the impeachment case against her was “not unexpected,” citing the direction of the proceedings before the House Committee on Justice.

In an official statement, Duterte’s camp maintained that the impeachment proceedings deviated from what it described as the “constitutional design” governing such cases.

“The finding of probable cause by the House Committee on Justice was not unexpected, given the direction the proceedings had taken,” the defense team said.

They argued that instead of limiting its review to the verified complaints and supporting attachments in the impeachment case, the panel broadened its scope to include issues that should be addressed during a full trial.

“We respectfully maintain that the proceedings before the Committee departed from the constitutional design,” the team said. “Instead of confining itself to the verified complaints and their attachments, the process expanded into matters that properly belong to a full trial,” it added.

The development marks a critical stage in the impeachment proceedings against Sara Duterte, as a finding of probable cause typically signals that the case may move forward to the next phase under the Philippines’ legal and constitutional framework.

The impeachment complaints against Duterte stem from allegations brought before the House of Representatives, triggering proceedings before the House Committee on Justice, which is tasked with determining probable cause.

A favorable finding at the committee level is a key step before any potential transmission of articles of impeachment to the Senate, which serves as the impeachment court under the Constitution.

On April 29, the House Committee on Justice unanimously ruled that there is probable cause in the two active impeachment complaints filed this year against the country’s second-highest official.

This declaration marks the final step in the three-stage process required for an impeachment complaint to advance from the committee to the plenary.

The first two stages involve determining sufficiency in form and sufficiency in substance; with probable cause now established, the panel is set to endorse the complaints for plenary consideration.

Duterte was once again absent during the April 29 House hearing.

In a post on her official Facebook account, Inday Sara Duterte, the Vice President was seen attending the launch of “Extra+Ordinary: The Vice Presidents of the Philippines” pop-up in San Pedro City, Laguna.

In a press conference on April 23, the defense announced that Duterte would not attend the April 29 House hearing, citing jurisdictional issues in the impeachment proceedings.

Addressing criticism over the Vice President’s absence, defense spokesperson Michael Poa said the decision was based on legal strategy.

“Her attendance or her non-attendance is based on the position of the defense regarding jurisdiction, or the lack thereof, in terms of the type or nature of proceedings being conducted,” Poa said.

READ: 

“Hindi ibig sabihin nito na ayaw rumisponde ng ating Bise Presidente sa mga paratang (This does not mean that our Vice President refuses to respond to the allegations),” he added.

The defense further argued that it would “fully respond” once the impeachment case reaches what it considers the proper forum—the Senate acting as the impeachment court.

Lawyer Sheila Sison underscored that evidence presented before a House committee does not equate to proof in an impeachment trial.

“Any evidence, whether it is something presented in an ordinary setting or in this impeachment proceeding, must still survive scrutiny. And when does that happen? It happens only in a proper trial, before a tribunal or a body that has jurisdiction to conduct trial,” she said.

She reiterated that the authority to try impeachment cases lies solely with the Senate, not the House or its committees.

“That is something that the defense has been very clear about from the very start: the reason why we have already stated that we will not be able to participate in a proceeding that we think is unconstitutional and goes beyond the powers identified by the Constitution to belong—not in the House of Representatives or in any of its committees—but in the Senate alone,” she added.

READ: 

While the defense has filed a petition before the Supreme Court related to the impeachment case, Duterte’s camp said it is ready should the proceedings advance to the Senate impeachment court.

“We’re just ready for any eventuality,” Poa said. “We are not here to lose. Our goal is not just to win, but to show the public that the accusations of corruption have no truth,” he added.

RELATED STORY: