Lawyer-solon Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro says the impeachment proceedings against Sara Duterte should continue even if the latter resigns as vice president.

In a press conference Wednesday, March 18, Luistro underscored that removal from office isn't the only penalty that awaits Duterte should she get impeached anew by the House of Representatives and be found guilty by fhe Senate impeachment court.

“For me, the impeachment complaint should, the impeachment proceedings should continue because there are two principal penalties if convicted. One is removal. The other is perpetual disqualification to hold any public office,” the Batangueña said.

Thus, the need to see the impeachment case through, particularly now that it's about to enter the "hearings proper" stage.

Luistro explained that while resignation would render removal from office moot, it would not extinguish the need to determine whether the Vice President should be barred from holding any government position in the future.

"I think the penalty of perpetual disqualification needs to be resolved as well,” noted the chairperson of the House Committee on Justice, which had been overseeing the impeachment proceedings--the second against Duterte in as many years.

Incidentally, Duterte declared last month her intention to run for the Palace seat in the 2028 national elections.

“And for us to be able to resolve that, it means that the impeachment proceedings must continue until the trial to the Senate, until they reach a decision of whether to convict or to acquit,” Luistro added.

Her remarks came as the Committee on Justice found sufficient grounds to hold hearings on the two remaining impeachment complaints against the Vice President.

After the hearings, the justice panel will proceed to determine whether or not there is probable cause to impeach Duterte. The matter would then be brought up to the House plenary, which would then vote to submit the articles of impeachment to the Senate.