Metro Manila, Philippines – The Senate may continue Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial in a hypothetical situation where she resigns before a verdict is reached, House prosecutor Keith Flores said.
Flores said the question of removal from office will be moot, but the impeachment court could still vote on perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
“She can no longer be removed because she resigned. She removed herself,” Flores told The Newsmaker. “But she can still be perpetually prohibited from running for any public office.”
He said the Senate would ultimately decide whether Duterte’s resignation should end the proceedings.
The Constitution provides that a judgment in an impeachment case may result in removal from office and disqualification from holding public office.
Flores cited the case of then impeached Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who resigned in 2011 before her trial could begin.
The Senate discontinued the proceedings against Gutierrez.
Flores said Duterte’s case would be different because her trial is ongoing.
“We’re already at the latter part of the trial. So maybe the Senate still has to continue and decide the case despite the resignation,” he said.
Flores said resignation is an option available to the vice president, but it would not automatically settle the question of whether the proceedings should continue.
The prosecution expects to finish presenting evidence by the middle of October.
Duterte has not announced any plan to resign.
