By Zaldy De Layola
MANILA – House Committee on Justice Chair Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro on Thursday said Vice President Sara Duterte’s absence from the next phase of impeachment proceedings could leave the allegations against her unchallenged and hasten the case’s transmission to the Senate.
Luistro said the panel’s finding that the third and fourth impeachment complaints were sufficient in grounds was driven largely by the respondent’s failure to directly answer the allegations.
The process, she said, is crucial for Duterte because it gives her camp the chance to answer the charges before the case reaches the House plenary and possibly the Senate, which will serve as the impeachment court.
“If their position is not to participate, then that is tantamount to saying na mata-transmit talaga ito sa (that it will really be transmitted to) Senate because unrebutted ang (are the) evidence ng (of the) complainant,” Luistro said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart.
“What is important, we are giving her the opportunity. Whether she attends or not, it will be her choice. It will be her decision,” she added.
Luistro said the hearing proper, which she described as a “mini-trial,” would give both sides the chance to present witnesses and evidence before the panel determines probable cause.
“This is just a proceeding before the Justice Committee, similar to a preliminary investigation by a fiscal in a criminal case where the participation of lawyers are actually not encouraged,” the lawmaker from Batangas said.
If the Vice President doesn’t counter, Luistro said the evidence of the complainant will be unrebutted, in which case, there’s a possibility of having probable cause, she added. (PNA)
