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The pending complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Ombudsman make the testimonies of prosecution witnesses before the impeachment court valuable even after the dropping of the related articles of impeachment, a private prosecutor said on Monday.
Atty. Benjamin Tolosa, a member of the prosecution panel in the impeachment trial, said the pieces of evidence presented before the impeachment court will not go to waste.
“There’s a pending case (complaint) before the Ombudsman for plunder involving the same issue on confidential funds, so it is not accurate to say that she will no longer be held accountable for this matter," Tolosa said in a press conference.
"Impeachment only deals with fitness to remain in office. The criminal aspects of our allegations are different, and it will proceed,” he added.
House prosecution adviser Ace Barbers said the complaints may be "ripe and sufficient" for filing before the Sandiganbayan.
“I personally believe it is really ripe and sufficient. Mabigat na ‘yung mga allegations dahil ito ay suportado na ang testimonies ng mga witnesses [under oath]. That is what the conduct of a preliminary investigation requires,” Barbers said in a press conference.
“It will save the Ombudsman sufficient time in conducting preliminary investigation to build a case and file it before the Sandiganbayan,” Barbers added.
GMA News Online sought comment from the Vice President's camp and will publish it as soon as it is available.
Duterte's camp has repeatedly said that she could not be charged before a court while she is the Vice President.
“Equally important, as a sitting impeachable officer, the Vice President may not be prosecuted for an alleged offense that is also the subject of an impeachment case,” Atty. Lawrence Lim said. —NB, GMA News