MANILA – The House of Representatives Committee on Justice will ensure fairness in applying impeachment rules as it reviews complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said.

The committee will begin tackling four impeachment complaints against Duterte on March 2 to determine if they have sufficiency in substance.

“Of course, the commitment of the House Committee on Justice is that we will implement all of the relevant rules on impeachment, like how they were implemented in previous proceedings such as the impeachment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” Ridon said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

He added that the committee is also committed to fairness in executing its mandate.

The complaints were filed by the Makabayan Coalition – including the Kabataan, Gabriela, and ACT Teachers party-list groups – as well as lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera and civil society organizations.

One complaint from the Makabayan bloc cited betrayal of public trust over alleged misuse of public funds, while other complaints accused Duterte of culpable violations of the constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes.

Ridon emphasized that it is up to Duterte’s camp whether she attends the proceedings.

“We are giving the Vice President the right to show or not show in our proceedings. It all depends on how the defense of the Vice President will be laid out. They will decide if her attendance will help their case,” he said.