The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte went on as scheduled on Wednesday (March 25) without her presence and those of her lawyers.

The House Committee onJustice chaired by Batangas Gerville Luistro quickly acted on motions to secure vital records for the fair resolution of the impeachment petition.

Duterte lawyers from the Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar assailed the proceedings in a letter sent to the justice panel. They challenged the proceedings for being unconstitutional even as they rejected it as an actual trial.

Duterte described the proceedings as a “mini-trial”.

Following the opening of the proceedings, the justice panel resolved that the objection has no basis as it clarified that what was unfolding was not a trial but a preliminary step in determining whether or not there is probable cause to impeach the vice president.

Luistro said that the proceedings is a mere clarificatory hearing “for the purpose of determining probable cause.”

Panel members agreed to issue subpoenas for records of the investigation into the alleged threats that Duterte declared against top officials and the submission of her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) from 2007 to present.

It was Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno who sought the issuance of subpoena duces tecum on the official copies of “all records of NBI’s investigation into threats made by Vice President.”

Diokno also sought the submission to the justice panel of Duterte’s SALN for the years 2022 to 2025; 2007 to 2013 and 2016 to 2022.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez objected to the joint motion as he pointed out that the SALN submission could be a mere “fishing expedition”.

Rodriguez lost the vote as 34 members upheld the joint motion for subpoenas.