Her resignation would not save impeached Vice President Sara Duterte from being permanently barred from seeking public office, a House impeachment prosecutor said Monday, dismissing claims that stepping down would be the last resort of the VP to save her presidential ambition in 2028.
1-Rider Rep. Ramon Gutierrez said the Senate impeachment court would still have the option to mete out a penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office even in the event that Duterte resigned before or during the trial.
Duterte was impeached by 215 House members for alleged betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
“The purpose of impeachment is, one, removal from office and, two, a penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding a public office. And I believe that resignation, while it might avoid the first penalty, the second penalty is still there,” he told reporters.
“I don’t think you should take away the power of the Senate impeachment court to impose that second penalty by a simple resignation,” the lawmaker added.
Nonetheless, Gutierrez averred that the prosecution panel will be prepared for any scenario.
“Even with the resignation, that would depend on the timeline, but we would still prepare for it. If there is a resignation but the impeachment court says to go ahead, then we will be prepared. If the resignation happens during the trial, we will be prepared,” he asserted.