MANILA, Philippines — House committee on justice chairperson Rep. Gerville Luistro stated on Sunday, March 22, 2026, that there is no “double standard” in how the panel handles impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Addressing claims of bias, Luistro explained that the committee’s decisions are strictly based on the presence of direct evidence and the degree of “personal participation” by the officials involved.
| Feature | President Marcos Jr. | Vice President Sara Duterte |
| Evidence of Personal Participation | Insufficient. No evidence established the President’s direct involvement in alleged corruption. | Evident. Statements regarding a hired assassin were made directly by the VP in a video. |
| Budgetary Involvement | Signing the General Appropriations Act (GAA) is not considered an act of corruption. | Alleged misuse of confidential funds supported by COA reports and House hearings. |
| Wealth Disparity | Not cited as a primary ground for the current raps. | Net worth reportedly reached ₱88M in 2025 despite cumulative salary being significantly lower. |
| Status of Complaints | Dismissed. Both complaints found insufficient in substance. | Proceeding. Two cases found sufficient in form, substance, and grounds. |
Luistro emphasized that for an impeachment case to proceed, there must be a clear link between the official and the alleged illegal act.
- For the President: The panel found that the complaints failed to explain how Marcos was personally tied to the implementation of the budget where corruption allegedly occurred.
- For the Vice President: The committee highlighted her public statements concerning a “contracted assassin” and reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) as concrete grounds for personal involvement.
The House committee on justice is moving forward with the two complaints against Vice President Duterte.
- Hearing Start Date: March 25, 2026.
- Objective: To determine if there is probable cause.
- Scheduled Subsequent Dates: April 14, April 22, and April 29.
Justice committee member Rep. Terry Ridon reinforced that the process is “rules-based and evidence-based,” adding that the panel is prepared to defend its proceedings before the Supreme Court if necessary to ensure the process remains “fair and in accordance with the Constitution.”