A conviction in the upcoming Senate impeachment trial will not result in prison time for Vice President Sara Duterte, as the proceedings are distinct from regular criminal cases, according to House prosecution panel spokesperson and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong.
Adiong clarified that the scope of penalties following a guilty verdict in an impeachment trial is strictly confined to stripping the official of public office and imposing a potential ban on holding future government posts.
“Ito po sa impeachment trial ay removal from public office. ‘Yun lang po. Wala pong jail term dito,” Adiong stated during a radio interview.
“Hindi po mako-curtail ‘yung kanyang right to property, ‘yung kanyang life, and basically ang kanyang liberty. Kaya nga po, hindi hosiya appealable,” he noted.
The lawmaker underscored that criminal court rules do not directly govern impeachment proceedings.
Unlike decisions rendered by regular judicial courts, which can be challenged in higher tribunals, the Constitution establishes the Senate as the sole body to try and resolve impeachment cases without option for appeal.
“Hindi ho natin po puwedeng mai-apply yung exact procedure ng criminal court sa mga regular na court sa impeachment court,” Adiong explained.
“Ang mga kaso po na nadesisyunan sa mga regular courts ay subject for appeal. That’s the number one consideration. Dito po sa impeachment trial, talagang nakasaad po diyan, ‘to try and decide.’ Hindi po puwedeng i-appeal ang kaso kung saan man,” he added.
Adiong also observed that Duterte is classified as a “respondent” rather than an accused party under the trial’s framework.
He reiterated that the constitutional objective of impeachment is solely to evaluate an official’s fitness to remain in office, not to hand down criminal penalties such as incarceration.