VP SARA'S SECRET PLAN? WHY SHE IS ABSOLUTELY NOT SHOWING UP FOR THE MINI-TRIAL? #attybuenoexplains

On March 19, 2026, the House Committee on Justice, led by Chairperson Gerville "Jinky" Luistro, issued a formal warning to the Vice President's camp. Luistro stated that if the Vice President and her legal team choose to skip the upcoming "mini-trial" (the formal hearing proper) scheduled to begin on March 25, 2026, it could significantly accelerate the process of sending the case to the Senate. The Core Conflict The House's Position: Luistro argues that the hearing is a vital opportunity for the VP to rebut allegations of graft, corruption, and making death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. If she doesn't attend, the complainants' evidence remains unrebutted, making it much easier for the committee to find probable cause and vote to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. The VP's Strategy: Her legal team, led by Michael Poa, has signaled they may advise her to skip the hearings if there is "nothing to gain." They argue that House rules—which only allow committee members, not the respondent's lawyers, to cross-examine witnesses—limit their ability to mount a fair defense at this stage. Why It Matters This "mini-trial" is the gatekeeper phase. If the Committee on Justice finds probable cause, it only takes a one-third vote from the full House of Representatives to officially impeach her and move the trial to the Senate. By potentially skipping the House phase, the VP's camp appears to be betting on a more favorable or rigorous legal battle in the Senate, while the House interprets her absence as a waiver of her right to be heard.