Members of the House prosecution panel said the possible resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte would not automatically stop the impeachment proceedings against her, arguing that the Senate impeachment court still has to determine whether she should face perpetual disqualification from public office.
During a press conference on Tuesday, lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said impeachment carries two principal penalties upon conviction: removal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding any government position.
“To answer your question, this is my opinion, not the opinion of the eleven prosecutors. We have to remember that there are two principal penalties in case the respondent in an impeachment case is convicted,” Luistro said.
“While resignation from office will render moot and academic the penalty of removal, it is my position that we need to continue the trial for the senator-judges to be able to determine whether or not they will impose as well the penalty of perpetual disqualification,” she added.
Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno supported Luistro’s position, describing it as a valid legal interpretation.
“It’s of course a very valid observation made by our chair,” Diokno said.
Former senator and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima also emphasized that the impeachment process serves as due process for Duterte, giving her the opportunity to formally answer the allegations raised against her.
“Alalahanin po natin that this is also due process for VP Sara. So pagkakataon niya ito. It’s time for her to face and answer the accusations against her,” De Lima said.
“Kung walang kasalanan, dapat walang iniiwasan o dapat walang iwasan,” she added.
De Lima also noted reports that Duterte’s legal team intends to respond to the writ of summons issued by the Senate impeachment court through the filing of an official answer.
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, earlier ordered Duterte to respond to the Articles of Impeachment within a non-extendible period.
The House prosecution panel held the briefing as it formally announced the assignments of prosecutors for each of the four Articles of Impeachment filed against the vice president.
The impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, failure to properly disclose assets and bank transactions in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, alleged bribery during her term as Education secretary, and making threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.