Luistro: Impeach proceedings should proceed even if VP Duterte resigns

MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment proceedings against Sara Duterte should continue even if she resigns from office, according to Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, who stressed that the process must still determine whether the country’s second-highest official should face the penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Luistro, who chairs the House committee on justice, made the remark during a press conference following the panel’s preliminary deliberations on Wednesday, in response to a question on what would happen to the proceedings should Duterte decide to step down from her post.

READ: Luistro: Sara Duterte impeachment hearing proper starts March 25

“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,” Luistro said in a press conference after the panel’s preliminary deliberations on Wednesday. 

“Although the resignation will render moot and academic the penalty of removal, I think the penalty of perpetual disqualification needs to be resolved as well. And for us to be able to resolve that, it means that the impeachment proceeding must continue until the trial in the Senate until they reach a decision of whether to convict or to acquit, and that would be for the perpetual disqualification lang po,” she added. 

The hearing proper on the impeachment complaints lodged against Duterte will begin on March 25. According to Luistro, hearings will also be held on April 14, 22, and 29. 

The lawmaker briefed the schedule after the justice panel declared the two petitions lodged against the vice president sufficient in grounds. 

Initially, four impeachment complaints were lodged against Duterte, but only two remain: the third, filed by clergy members and lawyers, and the fourth, submitted by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera.

In past deliberations, the justice committee already found both the third and fourth complaints sufficient in form and substance. /jpv