Vice President Sara Duterte (PPAB)

Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua and Tingog Party-list Eep. Jude Acidre says the Senate impeachment court on Vice President Sara Duterte must resolve in one way or another the House of Representatives' prayer for her perpetual disqualification from public office.

The two majority solons have declared Monday, Feb. 10 that the House prosection panel would insist on this, even in the scenario that Vice President Sara Duterte resigns before the start of the impeachment trial and possible conviction.

Chua, a member of the House prosecution team, noted that the impeachment complaint sought two primary penalties against Vice President Duterte--her removal from office and her perpetual ban from holding public office. 

"Assuming for the sake of argument siya po ay nag-resign in advance, ang amin pong opinyon dito ay dapat iresolba rin ‘yung isang penalty which is ‘yung disqualification,” he said.

(Assuming for the sake of argument that she resigns in advance, our opinion is that the second penalty on disqualification must also be resolved.)

“Dahil ang pagre-resign niya, ang nareresolba lang nito, ‘yung removal. Pero hindi po nade-desisiyunan yung isa pong hinihingi po naming relief which is yung disqualification,” added the Committee on Good Morning and Public Accountability chairman.

(Her resignation will resolve the removal. But it doesn't render a decision on the other relief we are seeking, which is disqualification.)

Despite her current woes, Vice President Duterte is still viewed by pundits as a strong candidate down the road, particularly in the 2028 elections, thanks to the popularity of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The Senate impeachment court is not a criminal court; it only seeks to penalize an impeachable officer based on the articles of impeachment identified in the complaint. 

Chua says that the Vice President enjoys immunity, unless she is removed from her seat.

"We cannot file other cases against the Vice President unless and until ma-remove siya from office dahil ‘yan lang ‘yung way. Hindi naman po siya agad po pwedeng deretsahan na ma-file-lan ng ibang kaso other than impeachment. So, after the impeachment doon lamang siya po pwedeng ma-file-lan ng ibang kaso,” Chua said.

(We cannot file other cases against the Vice President unless and until she is removed from office because that is the only way. Aside from impeachment, other cases can't be filed against her directly. So, other cases can be filed against her after this impeachment.)

Acidre, for his part, said that the Senate is constitutionally mandated to proceed with the trial, regardless of the vice president’s resignation. 

“I don’t think there’s a question whether a trial will continue kasi hindi naman up to the Senate kung magkakaroon ng trial o hindi… this is a constitutional process at ang proseso ng Konstitusyon hindi nagbibigay ng leeway sa Senado kung aaksyunan nila o hindi ang articles of impeachment,” said the assistant majority leader.

(I don’t think there’s a question whether a trial will continue because it's not up to the Senate whether there will be a trial or not… this is a constitutional process and the process of the Constitution doesn't give any leeway for the Senate on whether or not to act on the articles of impeachment.)

He also highlighted the importance of accountability.

“Hindi ito laban namin mga politiko na pro or anti sa kanila. Ito po’y usapin ng pananagutan sa bayan, and I think that should be the message na dapat sana sinagot ng pangalawang Pangulo in all of these accusations,” he explained.

(This is not a fight between politicians who are pro and against them. This is about accountability to the nation, and I think that should be the message that Vice President addressed in all of these accusations.)