House panel summons Ombudsman to Sara impeachment hearing

MANILA, Philippines — The House Committee on Justice has ordered Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to appear at its April 14 hearing on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a subpoena duces tecum et ad testificandum issued March 31, the panel directed Remulla to attend the hearing and submit Duterte's Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) for selected periods: 2007 to 2013, 2016 to 2022, and 2022 to 2025.

The hearing is part of the committee's proceedings after it found sufficient grounds in the third and fourth impeachment complaints against Duterte on March 18.

A subpoena duces tecum compels the production of documents, while a subpoena ad testificandum requires a person to appear and testify under oath.

The House panel's order covers both, requiring Remulla to testify and produce documents relevant to the impeachment proceedings.

Remulla said at a briefing that the Ombudsman would comply with the subpoena and provide the requested SALN records.

Tension between House, Ombudsman

Remulla, however, raised concerns about what he described as the House's lack of cooperation with an Ombudsman subpoena involving a congressional employee.

He identified the employee as Safronio Gabunabada, whom he said holds the rank of deputy secretary general, in connection with a flood control-related plunder case under investigation.

"Susunod na gagawin samin 'to ng Kongreso, I will cite the secretary-general for contempt. 'Di ako papayag na baliwalain nila ang Office of the Ombudsman," Remulla said.

(The next time Congress does this to us, I will cite the secretary-general for contempt. I will not allow them to disregard the Office of the Ombudsman.)

He added that the Ombudsman had sought SALNs from lawmakers but had yet to receive full compliance, and warned that additional subpoenas would be issued.

"Bibigyan pa namin ng subpoena sila bukas. At sana, huwag silang magkakamaling humindi, sapagkat hindi po kami papayag na hindi sila mag-compliance sa aming kautusan," he said.

(We will be issuing them subpoenas tomorrow. And hopefully, they do not make the mistake of refusing, because we will not allow them to fail in complying with our order.)