Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
The House of Representatives Committee on Justice will apply the rules of impeachment “fairly and consistently” as it moves closer to determining whether the complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte have sufficient substance, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said on Saturday.
The House is set to begin deliberations on four impeachment complaints on March 2, marking the start of the committee’s assessment of whether the allegations meet the threshold for substance.
Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Ridon said the committee is committed to enforcing the same impeachment rules applied in past proceedings.
“Siyempre ang commitment ng House Committee on Justice ay ipapatupad natin lahat ng relevant rules sa impeachment na ipinatupad din natin in previous impeachment proceedings katulad noong impeachment proceeding po ni Pangulong Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr.,” Ridon said.
He stressed that fairness would guide the panel’s actions throughout the process. “Commitment din ng committee na magiging fair ‘yung pagpapatupad ng aming mandato sa bagay na ito,” he added.
The impeachment complaints were filed separately by the Makabayan Coalition—through its allied party-list groups Kabataan, Gabriela, and ACT Teachers—as well as by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera and several civil society organizations.
One complaint endorsed by the Makabayan bloc alleges betrayal of public trust, citing the supposed misuse of public funds. Another accuses Duterte of culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes.
Ridon also clarified that it would be up to the Vice President’s camp to decide whether she would personally attend the committee proceedings.
“Ibinibigay po natin sa Pangalawang Pangulo ang karapatan na magpakita at hindi magpakita sa ating mga proseso,” he said, noting that the decision would depend on the strategy of Duterte’s legal team.
“Depende kung paano ilalatag ‘yung depensa ng Pangalawang Pangulo, sila ang magpapasya kung makakatulong ba sa kanilang kaso ‘yung pagpapakita o pagharap ng ating Bise Presidente,” Ridon added.
