Criminal case won't affect Duterte impeachment trial, Gatchalian says

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday underscored that the two legal proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte are entirely separate matters with distinct jurisdictions and procedures.

Gatchalian said the Quezon City Regional Trial Court will handle the grave threats case filed against Duterte, while the Senate Impeachment Court will conduct the impeachment trial independently. The Senate leader emphasized that developments in one proceeding should not influence the outcome of the other.

"These are separate proceedings with different courts and different standards," Gatchalian stated, noting that the RTC's criminal proceedings and the Senate's impeachment trial operate under distinct legal frameworks.

Duterte faces multiple challenges in recent months, including the criminal case at the Quezon City RTC and the impeachment complaint at the Senate. The clarification comes as observers monitor how the simultaneous legal proceedings may affect the Vice President's political standing.