Third and fourth Sara Duterte impeachment raps sufficient in grounds; hearings to begin on March 25

The third and fourth impeachment raps against Vice President Sara Duterte have been declared sufficient in grounds by the House Committee on Justice.

The House panel determined the sufficiency in grounds of both impeachment complaints against the VP on Wednesday, March 18.

"We declare the conclusion of step three. Now, we proceed to step four—that is the hearing proper, and in line with that, I wish to add that the evidence and witnesses which will be presented by both parties during the hearing proper will be part of our consideration in the determination of probable cause in our step five," House Committee on Justice chairperson Gerville Luistro said.

The initial dates of the hearing proper are March 25, April 14, April 22, and April 29.

On March 4, the House panel deemed the third and fourth impeachment complaints, filed by Fr. Sballa et al. and Atty. Nathaniel Cabrera, respectively, against the VP sufficient in substance.

The third complaint, endorsed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, accused Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder and/or malversation, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

The fourth one, endorsed by House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, likewise cited violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes as grounds of impeachment.

The first complaint was set aside for violating the one-year bar rule, while the second was withdrawn as it's similar to the third rap.