The House Committee on Justice has unanimously found probable cause in the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, with all 53 members voting to endorse the case filed by La Union 1st District Representative Paolo Ortega and Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante.

In response, the defense team of Vice President Duterte released an official statement saying the committee's finding did not come as a surprise, given how the proceedings had unfolded.

The defense team maintained that the process before the committee deviated from its constitutional mandate, arguing that the proceedings went beyond the scope of the verified complaints and their attachments, and instead ventured into matters that should only be taken up during a full trial.

“The finding of probable cause by the House Committee on Justice was not unexpected, given the direction the proceedings had taken.

We respectfully maintain that the proceedings before the Committee departed from the constitutional design. Instead of confining itself to the verified complaints and their attachments, the process expanded into matters that properly belong to a full trial.” - Official statement of the Defense team of VP Sara Duterte.