MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s camp on Tuesday argued that she cannot be prosecuted for an alleged offense that is also the subject of an impeachment case, as the Department of Justice filed three counts of grave threats against her before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
Duterte’s counsel Paul Lawrence Lim said the Vice President, as a sitting impeachable officer, could not be prosecuted for an alleged offense that is also being pursued through impeachment.
“Given these serious legal issues, the Vice President will exercise all available legal remedies in due course,” Lim said in a statement.
Lim said the DOJ also dismissed the National Bureau of Investigation’s complaint for inciting to sedition against Duterte.
He maintained that Duterte remains presumed innocent and expressed confidence that the grave threats charges would ultimately be dismissed.
“Under prevailing circumstances, we have anticipated and prepared for such an outcome,” Lim added.
