Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said the Senate should press on with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte even if she steps down from office, citing that the case carries penalties that go beyond removal from office.
Luistro noted that the impeachment convictions include removal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding public post during a briefing at the Batasang Pambansa.
She pointed out that a resignation would only render removal from office irrelevant, but would not settle the issue of possible lifetime disqualification.
Luistro said the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, must still rule on the remaining penalty to fully carry out its constitutional mandate.
She added that stopping the trial due to resignation would leave the proceedings incomplete.
Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, part of the House prosecution team, backed the view, saying the observation was valid and aligned with legal principles governing impeachment.
He said prosecutors remained prepared to present evidence before the senator-judges despite political developments surrounding the case.
The impeachment court was convened this week, giving Duterte time to respond to accusations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery allegations, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family.