MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte may still run in the 2028 elections as long as there is no final judgment of conviction in her impeachment proceedings, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Tuesday.
This is what Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia answered when asked about the possibility of Duterte resigning in the middle of her trial and if she was convicted of the allegations thrown at her.
“Ito lang po ang maliwanag: kahit sino po ang tumatakbo, ano man ang posisyon presidente o kahuli-huling barangay kagawad, hanggang walang pinal na judgement of conviction sa isang kasong kriminal ay nakakatakbo,” Garcia told reporters in an interview.
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“Hangga’t nakaapela ang kaso at hindi ito nagiging pinal ay pwedeng makatakbo ang naturang kandidato,” Garcia added.
Last February, Duterte declared her intention to run as president in the 2028 elections. Her impeachment trial began last July 6 and is scheduled to run for 92 trial days.
Garcia also said that the Comelec has a ministerial duty in accepting certificates of candidacy and can’t prohibit anyone who wants to seek an elective post.
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“Lahat ng COC ay tatanggapin namin at hindi para desisyunan agad namin habang tinatanggap kung ito ay kwalipikado o hindi kwalipikado. Hihintayin namin na may magfile ng petition o ang Comelec mismo ay magfafile ng motu proprio na diskwalipikasyon laban sa isang kandidato,” he expressed.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives last May 11 over four grounds: alleged misuse of confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education; alleged unexplained wealth; alleged distribution of monetary gifts or payments to DepEd officials; assassination threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. /cb
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