REP. GERVILLE LUISTRO: ‘We Will Present Evidence On Threat Allegations’

Tatalakayin sa April 29 impeachment hearing ang seryosong alegasyon ng death threats laban kay Pangulong Marcos at iba pang opisyal.

REP. GERVILLE LUISTRO: ‘We Will Present Evidence On Threat Allegations’

By Politico.ph
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By Politico.ph
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The House Committee on Justice is set to tackle one of the most serious charges in the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte – her alleged death threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez – at what could be its final hearing on probable cause on April 29.

Justice Committee chairperson Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas said Thursday that the next hearing will delve into the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) investigation and documentary evidence on the alleged death threats Duterte made in November 2024.

“We are inclined to proceed to the presentation of evidence in support of the allegations of threat. As a matter of fact, yesterday (Wednesday), nag-issue tayo ng (we issued a) subpoena to the NBI, as well as duces tecum to bring all digital and documentary evidence pertaining to the allegations of threat,” Luistro said in a televised interview.

“That is because we are really intending to conduct a clarificatory hearing on the allegations of threat. This will be happening on April 29.”

Before suspending the April 22 hearing, the Justice committee granted a motion to issue subpoenas for the NBI to present its findings on the Vice President’s alleged threats.

Unlike the first two hearings, the April 29 session will only have the NBI as its sole resource person, Luistro said.

Since there would be a less packed agenda, she said the committee is likely to vote that same day on whether probable cause exists for each allegation in the two impeachment complaints.

“So, we anticipate that at the end of the hearing on April 29, the justice members will proceed to vote on the determination of probable cause,” Luistro said.

She said the grave threats allegation is the last of the charges in the impeachment complaints to be examined, noting that no Justice committee member has so far requested additional hearing dates.

Luistro believes this suggests that the panel is satisfied with the three sessions scheduled.

Tax Records

But before voting, Luistro said the committee will first need to vote whether or not to unseal the tax records of Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, that was submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

“We cannot terminate the proceedings of the Justice committee with a matter left pending,” she said.

Should the committee vote to keep the BIR records sealed, Luistro said she would suggest transmitting them to the Senate as is, leaving it to the upper chamber to determine whether it has the jurisdiction and legal authority to open them as an impeachment court.

“So, we will leave it up to the Senate kung anong magiging position nila (what will be their position) about that. That is on the assumption that the Justice members will vote in favor of the probable cause,” she said.

The Committee on Justice deferred on Wednesday the disclosure of Duterte and Carpio’s income tax returns after encountering a legal obstacle where the tax code specifically limits the release of such records to Congress only upon request during inquiries in aid of legislation and in executive session. (PNA)