MANILA — The House of Representatives Committee on Justice is set to resume on Wednesday what is expected to be its final hearing to determine probable cause in two remaining impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The panel will focus on allegations tied to Duterte’s 2024 public statement purportedly threatening to have President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez killed.

The committee, chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, is expected to decide whether the third and fourth impeachment complaints meet the threshold for trial before the Senate.

Wednesday’s hearing is seen as a key stage in the proceedings, as it centers on one of the most direct allegations raised against the Vice President based on her own public remarks.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), led by Director Melvin Matibag, has been invited to present findings from its investigation into the alleged assassination threat.

The complaint stems from Duterte’s November 2024 press conference, where she made an expletive-laden statement saying she had arranged for someone to kill the President, First Lady, and then Speaker should anything happen to her.

Endorsers of one of the impeachment complaints pointed out that the statement was publicly made and recorded on video, which they said serves as key evidence in the case.

House Committee on Human Rights chair Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. earlier said the alleged remarks could constitute a “high crime,” stressing that such statements against a sitting President should not be taken lightly.

House Deputy Speaker La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V also said the issue goes beyond politics and raises questions about the Vice President’s fitness for office.

Lawmakers on the panel have repeatedly described the allegation as having “resibo,” citing Duterte’s own public statements as direct evidence.

Luistro earlier said the committee’s role is to determine probable cause based on evidence, similar to a preliminary investigation, and not to make political judgments.

“This is not about conclusions. This is about whether there is enough evidence to proceed,” she said in previous hearings.

The NBI is expected to clarify whether Duterte’s statements may be considered a credible and actionable threat under Philippine law.

Duterte has since said her remarks were conditional and made in the context of concerns for her own security.

Lawmakers, however, said the full context of her statements must still be assessed.

Aside from the alleged assassination threat, the impeachment complaints also include accusations of alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and unexplained wealth, which complainants say may constitute culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

The committee is expected to determine whether probable cause exists to elevate the case to the Senate for trial and whether to open a sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue box containing the income tax returns of Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio.