MANILA — The House Committee on Justice has declared the grounds for the third and fourth impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte sufficient, paving the way for formal hearings later this month.

Justice Committee chairperson Gerville Luistro said the panel will proceed with hearings on March 25, where lawmakers will begin examining evidence, witnesses, and memoranda in accordance with House impeachment rules.

The declaration followed motions from Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor and Deputy Speaker Janette Garin, which were approved without objection.

Lawmakers have also criticized Duterte’s response to the complaints, describing it as a “non-answer” to the allegations.

Representative Leila de Lima, who endorsed the third impeachment complaint, said complainants have waived their right to file a reply, citing the insufficiency of the Vice President’s response.

“After a careful study… the same failed to controvert the material allegations set forth in the complaint,” De Lima said, adding that the response did not provide a substantive counter-version of events.

She said that since the answer did not directly address the accusations, complainants found it unnecessary to submit a reply.

The committee had earlier ruled on March 4 that the complaints were sufficient in substance. It is currently handling two of the four impeachment complaints filed against Duterte, after the first was dismissed due to the one-year bar rule and the second was withdrawn by its sponsors.

The complaints revive allegations first raised in 2025, including the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and culpable violations of the 1987 Constitution.