Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Speaker's office, Facebook)

Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro gave an unsolicited but sound piece of advice to impeached Vice President Sara Duterte after getting wind of the "strong voter preference" for the latter in the 2028 presidential elections.

According to Luistro, Vice President Duterte should all the more welcome her upcoming impeachment trial as an opportunity to "clear her name" ahead of the next presidential race.

"I think this is an opportunity also for the Vice President to clear herself from all the allegations as included and incorporated in the impeachment complaint,” Luistro said.

The Batangas solon noted for over a full year now, the controversies hounding the Vice President have remained in the public's consciousness.

“Pinag-uusapan palagi itong misuse of confidential fund, itong betrayal of public trust, itong payola envelope ng DepEd and other allegations as stated in the impeachment complaint (The misuse of confidential funds, the betrayal of public trust, the payola envelope of DepEd and other allegations as stated in the impeachment complaint are being talked about)," said Luistro, a lawyer.

“Since kinokonsider siya as one of the presidentiables, I think she should embrace this opportunity para maklaro din ang sarili niya from all the allegations which are being charged against her,” she added.

(Since she's being considered as a presidentiable, I think she should embrace this opportunity so that she can clear herself from all the allegations which are being charged against her.)

"This will help the Filipino people decide on who really is to be supported as the next President of the Philippines. Of course ang gusto natin Presidente na may maayos na direction para sa ating bansa at para sa lahat ng mga Pilipino (Of course what we want is a President who was a clear direction for our country and for all Filipinos),” Luistro further said.

While Vice President Duterte is yet to make a formal announcement, pundits believe that she will throw her hat in the presidential race three years from now.

During the 2022 vice presidential race, then-Davao City mayor Duterte demolished the competition by amassing a record 32 million votes.

Despite her popularity, Duterte is now facing a Senate impeachment trial and could end up getting unseated. Luistro is one of 11 House impeachment prosecutors who seek to get a guilty verdict in the trial.

Luistro said the Vice President's popularity as a potential presidential candidate cannot stop the impeachment trial from taking place. She says the impeachment trial is a constitutional duty.

“Regardless of the survey as to who is the most preferred presidentiable for the 2028 election, I honestly believe that we have to push through with the impeachment process,” Luistro said.

She recalled that the impeachment complaint was signed by 215 congressmen who represent various districts and sectors all over the country. 

"As part of the prosecution team, it is our constitutional duty to push through with the prosecution of the Vice President with respect to the impeachment complaint that was filed against her. So, notwithstanding the fact that there is such a survey, this is a different matter that we really have to address,” Luistro explained.