House panel eyes to end Sara Duterte impeachment hearings by April 29

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on justice is targeting to conclude its impeachment hearings against Vice President Sara Duterte on April 29.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, a member of the justice panel, bared the date after stating that the committee is already nearing the end of its evidence-gathering phase, with key agencies and resource persons scheduled for the remaining hearings on April 22 and 29.

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“Ang alam ko (what I know is) on the 29th, hopefully we will wrap up,” Adiong said during a radio interview, as quoted by his office in a statement.

A committee report may then be transmitted to the plenary when Congress resumes session on May 4, marking the next phase of the constitutional process that could lead to a Senate trial.

According to Adiong, once approved at the committee level, the report — along with the third and fourth impeachment complaints — will be elevated to the plenary, where lawmakers will be given time to review the findings before any vote.

The plenary debates will also allow members to question the sponsor, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, who chairs the Justice committee, as part of the deliberative process.

“So it won’t be approved right away because there will still be, of course, further debates on it, and there will also be time for other members to ask questions to the chairperson, who will serve as the sponsor of this committee report,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Adiong stressed that the proceedings remain within constitutional bounds, with the House determining only probable cause, not guilt.

The impeachment complaints against Duterte accuse her of betrayal of public trust and possible constitutional violations, citing, among others, alleged irregularities in the use of confidential and intelligence funds under the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when she served as its secretary. 

They also reference reported inconsistencies in her asset declarations and allegations that she made threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.  /gsg /atm