There have been allegations here and there against Vice President Sara Duterte.
She has an ongoing impeachment trial that could oust her from the vice presidency and prevent her from running for president in 2028. There are alleged deliveries of millions of pesos to her as claimed by former cop Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.
And there’s this claim about her alleged link to companies that do business with China. Cale88 Food Corporation, tied to Duterte and husband Mans Carpio, allegedly received remittances from Chinese state-owned firms.
So, is resignation the answer to all her problems?
“No, no, no. I will not resign. I will never resign from the Office of the Vice President,” said Duterte during a chance interview with reporters on Tuesday, October 13.
Even before, Duterte’s defense lawyers said resigning is not option for the Vice President: “Never pa namin napag-usapan ng ating Bise Presidente ‘yung resignation (The Vice President and I have never talked about resignation). So, I don’t think we even have to discuss that issue,” said defense spokesperson and counsel Michael Poa.
A resignation, until now, would be a gamble for Duterte. There’s no assurance that her resignation will stop the Senate impeachment court from continuing her trial.
House prosecutors have been firm that a Duterte resignation won’t stop the trial, and by extension, the impeachment court’s judgment.
“Even if she resigns, for example, it will not absolve, it will not even terminate the impeachment trial because the only way to terminate the impeachment trial is for the court to finally reach a decision,” said House prosecution Zia Alonto Adiong earlier.
Duterte remains to be the most popular presidential aspirant because based on Pulse Asia’s September survey, she received a 50% voter preference rating. This is perhaps what keeps her holding on to her presidential dream.
But this number does not guarantee her political survival. If she gets convicted, it will mean nothing nor be of any use.
And at the rate things are going, the odds might no longer be in Duterte’s favor.
First, the Senate impeachment court already adjusted the voting threshold — it will count only the votes of senator-judges who are “legally and factually capable” of participating in the proceedings at the time of the vote.
This is bad news for Duterte because with 20 active senators at present, two-thirds of the denominator would mean 14 (the required number of conviction votes). And this rule, so far, still stands because the Supreme Court dismissed the three petitions challenging the decision to adjust the threshold.
Second, the prosecution already dropped three of four articles of impeachment against her. The prosecutors said their evidence on her alleged unexplained wealth is sufficient to convict Duterte.
“We believe that evidence is substantial and compelling, and warrants the respondent’s removal from office for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust,” lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro said.
What could this mean? It’s possible the prosecution has the numbers to convict her — and the dropping of the three articles is a telltale sign that the end of her vice presidency is coming.
“Whether or not I become the next president of our country remains to be seen. Hindi natin alam (We don’t know). And perhaps my purpose has always been bigger than the position itself,” said Duterte. – Rappler.com