HOUSE Committee on Justice Chair Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas on Wednesday said impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte should continue even if she resigns, noting that conviction also carries the penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office.
Responding to a question from the media during a press conference, Luistro said resignation would not automatically halt the process.
For me, the impeachment complaint and 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.
She 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.
“So, while the resignation will render the penalty of removal moot and academic, I think the penalty of perpetual disqualification also needs to be resolved,” Luistro said.
“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,” she added.
The statement comes as the House Committee on Justice has found sufficient grounds to proceed to hearings on the two remaining impeachment complaints against Duterte, marking the next phase of the process that could eventually lead to a Senate trial.
Under the Constitution, impeachment cases carry two possible penalties upon conviction: removal from office and disqualification from holding any public office.
Luistro underscored that the second penalty remains relevant even if the respondent steps down before the conclusion of the proceedings.
