MANILA – The House Committee on Justice adopted its ground rules and issued multiple subpoenas as it formally opened hearings on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The panel, chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, is examining allegations involving an alleged threat to kill, unexplained wealth, and the misuse of confidential funds.

Lawmakers approved a subpoena duces tecum to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), following a motion by Manila Rep. Joel Chua, to obtain records related to Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. The alleged remarks were made during a November 2025 press conference.

The subpoena directs the NBI to submit certified copies of all documents, records, and photographs gathered during its probe.

The committee also moved to obtain financial and corporate records linked to Duterte, her family, and associated entities. Chua pushed for a subpoena to the Office of the Ombudsman for Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, while Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon sought records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), including income tax returns of Duterte, her spouse Manases “Mans” Carpio, and related firms from 2007 to 2025.

Subpoenas were likewise approved for the Securities and Exchange Commission to secure corporate documents and financial statements of firms tied to Duterte and her family.

On the issue of confidential funds, ML Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima moved for subpoenas to Commission on Audit official Atty. Gloria Camora to testify and submit documents, including liquidation reports and disbursement records from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

De Lima also sought subpoenas for Ramil Madriaga to authenticate his November 2025 affidavit and for notary public Atty. Cynthia Viñas-Pantoñal to confirm its execution and provide the original document. The panel also approved a motion by Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno to place Madriaga under protective custody.

The committee further issued a subpoena to lawyer Michael Poa, Duterte’s former chief of staff and spokesperson at DepEd, during which the agency received PHP112.5 million in confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.

Lawmakers also directed the House Legislative Library Archives Division to submit records of previous 2024 hearings on confidential funds, and ordered the Philippine Statistics Authority to provide civil registry documents to verify the identities of listed recipients.

These actions form part of the committee’s evidence-gathering process on two impeachment complaints earlier deemed sufficient in form, substance, and grounds.

Prior to the proceedings, the panel adopted rules governing the hearings, including quorum requirements, speaking protocols, and limits on participation by resource persons and their legal counsel.

The committee is tasked with determining whether probable cause exists to elevate the complaints to the Senate, which will serve as the impeachment court. Further hearings are scheduled on April 14, 22, and 29.