The House Committee on Justice began its first public hearing on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte on April 14, 2026. Key witnesses including Ramil Madriaga and officials from various agencies are expected to testify. The proceedings moved forward after the Supreme Court did not issue a temporary restraining order.
The House Committee on Justice began examining evidence and hearing testimonies for the first time in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, April 14. Subpoenaed documents and witnesses from the National Bureau of Investigation, Commission on Audit, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Office of the Ombudsman are expected to be presented. Ramil Madriaga, Duterte's former aide alleged as a 'bagman,' is set to testify regarding his affidavit claiming coordination with her security officers to transport cash.
Retired Supreme Court justice Adolf Azcuna said the Supreme Court's non-issuance of a temporary restraining order signals that the House justice panel can proceed to determine probable cause. "The message here is that the SC does not want at this stage to intervene in House proceedings at a committee level," Azcuna told ANC. He noted that the House's prosecution-oriented stance is not bias, as impeachment at this stage is about charging, not judging.
Duterte sought Supreme Court intervention to halt the hearings, questioning the committee's jurisdiction and calling the proceedings unconstitutional due to the one-year bar. Rep. Terry Ridon stated, "They cannot restrain the truth relating to their personal and business incomes," referring to tax records of Duterte and her husband to be presented in the hearings.
The House has 60 session days from February 23 to complete its report. Approval by one-third of the House plenary would send it to the Senate for trial.
