The House Justice Committee is expected to vote on whether there is sufficient probable cause to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, April 29. House Justice Committee Chairperson and 2nd District Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro stated that several important issues still need to be discussed before the vote, including the income tax returns of Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, as well as the alleged threat made by the Vice President against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Key Issues to Be Addressed
One of the deferred matters is the discussion of the green box submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). The agency reminded the committee that the contents cannot be opened in an open session and should only be discussed in a closed-door meeting if it is in aid of legislation.
Additionally, a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) surfaced during the hearing, stating that a total of PHP 6.7 billion in covered and suspicious transactions were linked to Vice President Sara Duterte and Manases Carpio. The Vice President's camp has previously denied this report, arguing that the figures are “bloated” because transactions over several years were combined.
Ombudsman Findings and Committee Outlook
According to the Office of the Ombudsman, Sara Duterte did not declare any cash on hand or bank deposits in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) from 2019 to 2024. Several committee members have indicated that they will support a finding of probable cause. If approved, the committee report will proceed before being submitted to the plenary.
If the impeachment passes the House of Representatives, 106 votes will be required to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial.
