HOUSE trial spokespersons Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur and Renee Louise Co of Kabataan Party-list and legal spokesperson Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. on Monday said any resignation by Vice President Sara Z. Duterte would not erase accountability or automatically end the impeachment proceedings.
Responding to a reporter’s question from a press conference at the Senate Monday, Adiong said the impeachment case is a constitutional accountability process, not a wasted effort.
“Hindi naman ho masasayang dahil unang-una, pananagutan po ang pinag-uusapan natin dito,” Alonto Adiong said.
He said the trial must continue because the alleged acts in the Articles of Impeachment still have to be heard and decided.
“The trial will continue, the trial must continue because the resignation does not automatically condone the acts committed,” Alonto Adiong said.
Alonto Adiong said the House has already impeached Duterte, and the next constitutional step is for the Senate to try and decide.
“Na-impeach na po siya, as far as the House of Representatives is concerned, na-impeach na po siya, so the procedural conclusion from that stage, according to the Constitution, is for the Senate to try and decide,” he said.
He said public officers may choose to resign, but accountability cannot be made optional.
“Resignation is an option given to all public officers, either appointed or elected,” Alonto Adiong said. “Accountability should not be made as an optional issue.”
Co said resignation would answer only the question of whether Duterte remains in office, not the substance of the case.
“Wala pong sayang sa proseso ng pananagutan,” Co said. “If ever it comes to that, resignation only evades accountability,” she added.
She said resignation would not resolve the four Articles of Impeachment or the issue of possible permanent disqualification from office.
“It only answers the question of occupation of office,” Co said.
“Hindi pa nito sinasagot ‘yung four Articles of Impeachment, hindi nito sinasagot ‘yung other constitutional, ipinapataw na permanent or perpetual disqualification from office,” she added.
Co said the House prosecution panel remains ready to proceed regardless of developments. “The trial is promised to the Filipino people today. We will continue regardless kung ano pong maging development.”
Tolosa said the question assumes that resignation would terminate the case, but the prosecution’s position is that impeachment carries two constitutional penalties.
“Dalawa ang penalty dito sa constitutional impeachment: removal and perpetual disqualification from holding public office,” Tolosa said.
He cited a Supreme Court (SC) ruling in an administrative case where resignation did not end proceedings because other penalties remained possible.
“The resignation does not render the entire proceedings moot dahil again mayroon pang other penalties,” Tolosa said.
Tolosa said the principle should apply even more strongly in Duterte’s impeachment case, given the gravity of the allegations.
“Here we’re talking about billions of financial transactions, hundreds of millions of confidential funds,” Tolosa said.
For the House prosecution panel, resignation may address the office, but it does not wipe away the alleged acts, the Articles of Impeachment, or the Senate impeachment court’s duty to try and decide.
metrosundaily
