MANILA, Philippines — The House Committee on Justice may expedite impeachment proceedings against Sara Duterte if the vice president does not submit a response to the complaints filed against her by Monday, according to Terry Ridon.
Ridon, a representative of Bicol Saro Party-list and a member of the justice panel, said Duterte was given 10 days to reply after two impeachment complaints were deemed sufficient in form and substance.
“The House Committee on Justice is awaiting the vice president’s answer. In the event that she does not respond by Monday, the process will be shortened, abbreviated,” Ridon said during a forum on Saturday.
He said the committee could determine the sufficiency of grounds for impeachment as early as the final weeks of the month before proceeding to formal hearings.
Ridon said Duterte and her camp have until the end of office hours on Monday to file a reply before the panel decides on its next steps.
If Duterte submits a response, complainants will have three days to file a reply. The vice president will then have another three days to submit a rejoinder.
The justice panel is tentatively scheduled to determine the sufficiency of grounds on April 8.
The impeachment complaints stem from allegations of misuse of confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines and the Department of Education, which Duterte led from July 2022 to June 2024.
The complaints also cite allegations that Duterte threatened to hire a hitman to assassinate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Liza Araneta-Marcos and Martin Romualdez.
Complainants further alleged that the vice president bribed officials at the education department and favored certain distributors in procurement transactions.