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February 24, 2026 | 4:32pm
MANILA, Philippines — Another round of hearings is set for the Dutertes next week, but this time the spotlight is on Vice President Sara Duterte as the House of Representatives begins evaluating the impeachment complaints.
House Committee on Justice Chair Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro announced on Tuesday, February 24, that panel deliberations on the four complaints filed against Duterte will start on March 2.
Interestingly, this is just two days after former president Rodrigo Duterte's week-long confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) would come to an end.
Luistro said the committee hearings will run until March 4, but only for the purpose of determining whether the complaints are sufficient in form and substance. Even if the hearings extend until Congress is about to adjourn its session on March 20, she said the committee is "inclined to continue the hearing" during recess.
When consolidation happens
She also clarified that the four complaints will not be consolidated during the preliminary hearings; the committee will evaluate the sufficiency of each complaint. This means the committee may recommend dismissing some complaints while moving forward with even just one.
In case a complaint reaches the plenary and is found sufficient in form and substance, Duterte will be given 10 calendar days to respond to the allegations. The complainants will then have three days to reply.
It is also possible for multiple impeachment complaints to clear the initial stage and move to the more detailed hearings, which involve reviewing evidence and summoning Duterte. However, it is also Duterte's choice whether or not she would attend the hearings as part of her right to due process.
"Kung dadating siya, it means that she is exercising her right to due process. Otherwise, that only means that she is waiving her right to be present during the hearing," Luistro added.
(If she attends, it means she is exercising her right to due process. If not, it simply means she is waiving her right to be present during the hearing.)
Should probable cause be found, Luistro said the allegations and grounds for impeachment of multiple complaints could be consolidated physically.
Longer hearings likely
President Bongbong Marcos, who similarly faced impeachment complaints, survived the attempt to oust him in just three hearings. And about a week later, the House effectively killed the chance to impeach him.
Duterte's case may just be different, Luistro said, since the committee will have to tackle four complaints with a more lengthy list of allegations and evidence. Only two complaints were officially filed against Marcos.
"Ultimately, kung mahaba o hindi ang proceeding nito, it will depend first kung papasa siya sa standard ng form and substance. Kung papasa siya sa standard ng form and substance, then possibly mahaba ang magiging procedure," Luistro added.
(Ultimately, whether the proceedings will be long or short will first depend on whether it meets the standard of form and substance. If it passes that standard, then the process could possibly be lengthy.)
In this second attempt to impeach Duterte, Congress chose not to expedite the process, possibly to comply with the Supreme Court's new impeachment rules and prevent the case from being blocked or dismissed on technicalities.
The impeachment complaints filed against Duterte were referred to the House Committee on Justice on Monday, February 23 — the same day the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I opened hearings for her father's confirmation of charges.
The impeachment complaints
The first two complaints, filed February 2 by progressive groups and marginalized sectors, were endorsed by the Makabayan bloc and by Reps. Leila de Lima and Perci Cendaña. The third, filed February 9 by lawyers and church leaders, was also endorsed by Rep. Leila de Lima.
The fourth, filed February 18 by Nathaniel Cabrera, was backed by Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. and Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V.
Duterte faces corruption allegations involving P612.5 million in confidential funds, fictitious names in acknowledgment receipts, bribery in the Department of Education, and unexplained wealth and discrepancies in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN).
She is also accused of conspiring to commit murder by issuing death threats against Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Most complaints cite official records from the Commission on Audit, the Philippine Statistics Authority and congressional hearings. They also include the sworn testimony of her former aide, Ramil Madriaga, who confessed to delivering confidential funds to her security personnel.
