VP may face ‘disbarment complaint,’ says solon

Vice President Sara Duterte could face a “disbarment complaint” following her recent statements expressing a lack of trust in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, a House prosecutor warned Wednesday.

Representative Joel Chua, lead prosecutor on the Vice President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds, said that Duterte, a registered lawyer with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), could face disciplinary action for making “sweeping statements” that question the court’s integrity.

“Disciplinary action is possible if someone files a case for her recent statements,” Chua said, calling the remarks unbecoming of the nation’s second-highest official and noting that lawyers are bound as officers of the court to respect judicial institutions.

Duterte became a lawyer in 2005 after graduating from San Sebastian College-Recoletos and passing the bar exam on her first attempt before entering politics as Davao City vice mayor in 2007.

Chua cited that House prosecutors remain focused on the Senate impeachment trial rather than pursuing disbarment proceedings themselves. The prosecution panel concluded its presentation on Article I of the impeachment proceedings on 8 September, after private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan informed the court they would drop their remaining 15 witnesses for the confidential fund case.