By Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega V of La Union and Janette Garin of Iloilo on Friday dismissed as baseless and diversionary the claim that the House Committee on Justice’s finding of probable cause in the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte was the result of any “pay-off” or political inducement.
“What pay-off? The record speaks for itself. The Committee’s unanimous vote was anchored on overwhelming documentary evidence – official records, sworn testimonies, and verifiable financial documents presented in open hearings,” Ortega said in a statement.
He said the proceedings of the House Committee on Justice were transparent, with members from political parties independently assessing the evidence laid before them.
“No amount of spin can erase the fact that congressmen, regardless of affiliation, were confronted with hard numbers, official audit findings, and financial trails that demand accountability. The vote was not coerced; it was compelled by evidence,” he added.
Ortega said allegations of bribery or coercion are a “disservice to the institution and an affront to the integrity” of House members.
“To suggest that lawmakers abandoned their oath for a ‘pay-off’ is not only false, it is an insult to the collective judgment of the Committee. These are elected representatives who understand the gravity of impeachment. They voted based on what was proven, not on what was peddled outside the halls of Congress,” he said.
Ortega challenged opposition lawmakers and critics repeating the bribery narrative.
“If you have evidence of a ‘pay-off,’ then name names. Identify the members. Present the proof. Execute sworn statements. File the appropriate charges. Otherwise, stop maligning the entire House with reckless accusations,” Ortega said.
The House leader, meanwhile, reminded that a finding of probable cause does not determine guilt, but merely affirms that sufficient basis exists to elevate the matter to the plenary and, ultimately, to the Senate for trial.
“This is the constitutional process at work. The House determines probable cause. The Senate tries the case. That is the rule of law. That is accountability,” Ortega said.
In a separate statement, Garin categorically declared there were no payoffs and no coercion in the move by the House panel, saying the unanimous vote of its 53 members was driven by evidence against the country’s second-highest official.
The Iloilo lawmaker issued the statement in response to a report alleging a supposed PHP1.3-billion “appearance fee” fund for Justice panel members.
“Walang katotohanan ang ‘appearance fees’ at mas lalong walang pilitan (There is no truth to the appearance fee, nor any coercion),” Garin said.
“Mabigat ang ebidensya na iniharap laban sa pangalawang pangulo at hindi nya ito nasagot dahil pinili nyang maging absent sa lahat ng hearings kaya hindi na kataka-taka na nagkaisa ang boto para sa probable cause (The evidence presented against the Vice President was strong and she didn’t answer it because she chose to remain absent in all the hearings, so, it’s not surprising that the vote was unanimous for probable cause),” she added.
Garin said the unfounded allegations against committee members were an attempt to discredit the outcome and shift attention away from the evidence on record.
“This narrative is meant to distract from the evidence. But the record is clear – the vote was based on facts, documents, and sworn testimony,” Garin said.
“There was no pressure, no directive, and no money involved. What we saw was an independent body doing its constitutional duty,” she added.
Voting 53–0 with zero abstentions, the Justice panel found probable cause to impeach Duterte after weeks of hearings that built a detailed evidentiary record on alleged fund misuse, unexplained wealth, and threats against top officials.
The committee is set to approve its report recommending impeachment, which will be submitted to the plenary before possible transmittal of the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial. (PNA)
