MANILA — House Committee on Justice Chair Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said Vice President Sara Duterte’s non-participation in the next phase of impeachment proceedings could leave the accusations against her unanswered and speed up the case’s transmission to the Senate.

Luistro said the committee’s earlier determination that the third and fourth impeachment complaints were sufficient in grounds was largely influenced by the respondent’s failure to directly respond to the allegations.

She explained that the ongoing proceedings are a critical stage for the Vice President, as it allows her camp to address the accusations before the case moves to the House plenary and potentially to the Senate, which will act as the impeachment court.

“If their position is not to participate, then that is tantamount to saying na mata-transmit talaga ito sa (that it will really be transmitted to) Senate because unrebutted ang (are the) evidence ng (of the) complainant,” Luistro said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart.

“What is important, we are giving her the opportunity. Whether she attends or not, it will be her choice. It will be her decision,” she added.

Luistro described the upcoming hearing as a “mini-trial,” where both sides will be given the chance to present evidence and witnesses before the panel decides on the existence of probable cause.

She likened the proceedings to a preliminary investigation in criminal cases, noting that such hearings are conducted at the committee level.

“This is just a proceeding before the Justice Committee, similar to a preliminary investigation by a fiscal in a criminal case where the participation of lawyers are actually not encouraged,” the Batangas lawmaker said.

Luistro added that if the Vice President does not refute the allegations, the complainant’s evidence would remain unchallenged, increasing the likelihood that the panel may find probable cause.