MANILA, Philippines – Tatalakayin ng House Committee on Justice ang isa sa pinakamabigat na paratang laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte—ang umano’y death threats laban kina Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, at dating Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez—sa posibleng huling hearing para sa probable cause sa April 29.
Ayon kay Justice Committee chairperson Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, tututukan sa susunod na pagdinig ang imbestigasyon ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at mga dokumentong may kaugnayan sa umano’y banta noong Nobyembre 2024.
“We are inclined to proceed to the presentation of evidence in support of the allegations of threat. As a matter of fact, yesterday (Wednesday), nag-issue tayo ng (we issued a) subpoena to the NBI, as well as duces tecum to bring all digital and documentary evidence pertaining to the allegations of threat,” ani Luistro.
Dagdag niya, “That is because we are really intending to conduct a clarificatory hearing on the allegations of threat. This will be happening on April 29.”
Sa April 29 hearing, NBI lamang ang magiging resource person, at inaasahan na rin ng komite na boboto sila kung may probable cause sa mga paratang sa impeachment complaints.
“So, we anticipate that at the end of the hearing on April 29, the justice members will proceed to vote on the determination of probable cause,” ani Luistro.
Sinabi rin niya na tatalakayin muna kung bubuksan ang tax records nina Duterte at asawang si Manases Carpio na isinumite ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
“We cannot terminate the proceedings of the Justice committee with a matter left pending,” aniya.
Kung sakaling hindi bubuksan ang records, posibleng ipadala ito sa Senado upang sila ang magpasya kung maaari itong buksan bilang impeachment court.
“So, we will leave it up to the Senate kung anong magiging position nila (what will be their position) about that.”
Naunang ipinagpaliban ng komite ang pagtalakay sa income tax returns dahil sa limitasyon ng batas sa paglalabas ng ganitong dokumento, maliban sa mga imbestigasyong in aid of legislation at sa executive session. RNT/MND
