MANILA — The House of Representatives is set to formally open impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio on March 25, with lawmakers prioritizing critical pre-trial issues — including the custody of a key witness and alleged conflicts of interest within the defense team — before the presentation of evidence.
House justice committee chairperson Gerville Luistro said the initial phase of the hearings will focus on resolving pending motions and petitions that could shape the direction of the proceedings.
“What’s gonna happen during the hearing proper will be the presentation of witnesses and evidence of the complainant to be followed by that of the respondent,” Luistro said.
“Pero mayroon tayong mga pending request, petition and concern, which we need to thresh out first before we proceed to the presentation of witness and evidence,” she added.
Among the key matters up for discussion is the request to place Ramil Madriaga under House custody to ensure his safety and availability to testify. Madriaga, who claims to have served as Duterte-Carpio’s former bagman, is currently detained in Taguig City over a kidnapping case—an allegation the Vice President has previously denied.
Lawmakers are also scrutinizing possible conflicts of interest involving members of Duterte-Carpio’s legal team, including lawyer Michael Poa, who previously held a high-level position under Duterte, and Reynold Munsayac, a former procurement official.
Luistro said the presentation of evidence could begin on April 14, depending on the readiness of the complainants.
She also clarified procedural rules governing the hearings, stressing that while the defense may have limited direct participation during committee proceedings, it will still have avenues to counter the evidence presented.
Under impeachment rules, only members of the House justice committee are allowed to directly examine and cross-examine witnesses. Defense lawyers may conduct cross-examination if the case progresses to a Senate trial.
Luistro emphasized that justice committee members act as prosecutors in the impeachment process, making it unlikely for them to present evidence on behalf of the respondent.
“The justice members are supposed to examine the evidence and the witnesses, which are being presented by the complainant on one hand and the respondent on the other hand. Piskal kami dito. Prosecutors kami dito,” she said.
“So ang mga justice members ang mag-aaral ng lahat ng ebidensyang ilalatag ng complainant at ng respondent. But it’s hard to conceive how a justice member will be the one to present the evidence for the respondent. The justice member is not a party here.”
She added that committee members, including Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay, may participate in questioning witnesses but not in presenting evidence for either side.
Lawmakers who are not part of the justice committee will not be allowed to cross-examine but may raise manifestations during the hearings.
Additional hearing dates have been scheduled on April 14, April 22, and April 29 as the House moves forward with the high-stakes impeachment proceedings./PN
