By Lane Afable, News Editor
Some 53 unanimous votes by members of the Congressional Committee on Justice have set a strong probable cause to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte.
The Congressional Justice Committee determined sufficient grounds for impeachment based on accusations of misuse of public funds, corruption, unexplained wealth, and threats against officials.
The august body led by Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, voted 53-0 in favor of the motion, indicating a strong consensus justifying the existence of a probable cause in each of the two impeachment complaints.
The impeachment complaints focus on alleged misuse of public funds, betrayal of public trust, corruption, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The committee noted significant disparities between the Vice President’s declared net worth of approximately P88 million in 2024 and reports from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) indicating over P6.7 billion in suspicious transactions.
The finding of probable cause now advances the impeachment complaints to the plenary, where a one-third vote is required to impeach the Vice President.
Lawyers for Vice President Duterte have stated that the committee’s proceedings departed from the “constitutional design” by focusing on matters better suited for a full trial, maintaining that the complaint is politically motivated.
The committee’s decision marks a critical step in the impeachment process, setting the stage for further legislative action against Vice President Duterte.
