HOUSE PANEL TELLS SARA: ANSWER IMPEACH RAPS

THE House Committee on Justice on Thursday formally served a notice requiring Vice President Sara Duterte to respond to the two verified impeachment complaints filed against her, which have been assessed as sufficient in form and substance.

- BY WENDELL VIGILIA

“Accordingly, you are hereby directed to file your Verified Answer to the abovementioned complaints within a non-extendible period of ten (10) calendar days from receipt of this Notice, and to serve a copy of your Verified Answer upon the complainants within the same period as required under Sec. 6 of the Rules,” the panel chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro told the Vice President.

The notice, dated March 4, 2026, was signed by Luistro and addressed to the Office of the Vice President at Cybergate Plaza in Mandaluyong City.

House records show that the document, which includes a copy of the two impeachment complaints, was received by the OVP at 10:44 a.m. Thursday.

The panel warned that failure to respond within the prescribed period of 10 days from receipt “shall be deemed a waiver of your right to file the same and you shall be considered to have interposed a general denial to the allegations contained in the impeachment complaints.”

Under House rules governing impeachment proceedings, the respondent is required to file a verified answer before the committee proceeds to the next stage of deliberations on the complaints.

The complainants will then have three days to reply, while the respondent will have three days to file a rejoinder.

If a sufficient basis is found, the committee will proceed to full hearings where complainants, witnesses and the Vice President may be invited. Luistro had earlier said Duterte has the prerogative to attend or not.

The justice panel will then vote on probable cause, which requires a majority of all committee members.

If at least one-third of all House members vote to approve the committee report in the plenary, the Articles of Impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate for trial.