By Billy Begas
House Committee on Justice chairperson and Batangas Rep. Gerille Luistro said that Vice President Sara Duterte’s Verified Answer Ad Cautelam failed to rebut the allegations in the two remaining impeachment complaints against her.
“Apparently, for me, it doesn’t seem like an answer. While I was reading the answer, it looks like a motion to dismiss,” said Luistro in a radio interview on Tuesday.
“At maliwanag sa ating rules of impeachment ng House of Representatives, that motion to dismiss is a prohibited pleading dito sa impeachment proceeding,” she added.
Duterte filed her Answer last Monday before the House Committee on Justice.
“At least if I base it on the allegations contained in the answer, hindi siya responsive dun sa grounds, dun sa offenses alleged in the impeachment complaint. In effect, parang hindi sumagot, and instead they are questioning the proceeding before the Justice Committee in support of their intention to dismiss the impeachment complaint,” Luistro said.
Luistro said Duterte’s lack of direct response could be considered a general denial by the committee.
“Ngayon, considering that the answer is not responsive to the complaint, it appears like unrebutted ang mga allegations ng complainant,” the lady solon said.
“Kumbaga, since hindi sinagot directly, it is as if tinanggap ang allegations na ito, and we will be perceiving this as general denial ng mga allegations doon sa complaint,” Luistro added.
After receiving the Answer of Duterte, the complainants may submit their reply. The complainants in the third impeachment complaint, however, manifested that they are waiving their right to file a reply, saying Duterte failed to directly address the allegations.
The complainant in the fourth impeachment complaint has yet to respond to Duterte’s Answer.
Based on the submissions, members of the House Committee on Justice will determine whether there are sufficient grounds to proceed with hearings and establish probable cause to file Articles of Impeachment before the Senate.
