MANILA — The House of Representatives is poised to vote on the impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio on May 11, with House leaders saying lawmakers are now entering the final review stage of the case after the justice panel unanimously found probable cause against her.
Batangas’ Cong. Gerville Luistro, chairperson of the House Committee on Justice, said all 318 House members must first receive copies of the committee report, the Articles of Impeachment, and supporting evidence before any plenary vote can proceed, in line with due process requirements and Supreme Court jurisprudence.
“Ang sabi nila diyan, before the plenary vote, the House members should be provided with a copy of the committee report, the resolution, and the Articles of Impeachment, most especially the Articles of Impeachment and the attached evidence,” Luistro said.
“They should be given reasonable time to read and study the same before the plenary vote. That’s part of due process,” she added.
The House justice panel approved the consolidated impeachment report in a unanimous 55-0 vote on Monday after determining probable cause in two complaints filed against Duterte-Carpio, bringing the impeachment process a step closer to a possible Senate trial.
The report has since been transmitted to the Bills and Index and is expected to be calendared by the Committee on Rules before returning to the plenary.
Luistro said once the Rules committee endorses the measure, the Office of the House Secretary General will distribute copies of the documents to lawmakers, the Vice President, and the complainants.
Under House procedures, members will then be given five days to examine the materials before casting their votes.
“So, if that will happen today, then we have Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I think five days is a reasonable period for the House members to be able to read and study,” Luistro said.
“From my perspective as the justice chair, given the five-day period na ibibigay natin to the House members to study, I think by May 11, the plenary should be ready to vote,” she added.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo’s Cong. Lorenz Defensor said the lengthy impeachment proceedings are designed to ensure fairness and allow both lawmakers and respondents enough time to thoroughly assess and answer the allegations.
“Sadyang matagal ang proseso ng impeachment kasi dapat mabigyan ng pagkakataon na mailatag ang ebidensya para magkaroon kami ng sapat na batayan para makaboto ng intelihente at bigyan din ng pagkakataon ang mga respondent, katulad ng vice president, na kung gusto niya sumagot ay may panahon at pagkakataon siya sumagot,” Defensor said.
Defensor stressed that Duterte-Carpio still has the opportunity to present evidence that could potentially stop the impeachment from advancing to a Senate trial.
However, he noted that the Vice President earlier declined invitations to participate in the hearings conducted by the House justice panel.
“It’s always part of due process; nonetheless, the Vice President was given every opportunity to attend and to debunk,” Defensor said./PN
