Vice President Sara Duterte cannot use her mandate to stop the impeachment process against her, the Commission on Elections said Friday, even if she received 32 million votes in the past election, the highest ever for an elected official.

Duterte has repeatedly rejected calls for her to resign amid an ongoing investigation into her offices’ use of hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.

At least 2 impeachment complaints have been filed against the vice president before the House of Representatives, with a third set to be filed next week. The complaints accuse Duterte of betrayal of public trust over alleged misuse over P612.5 million in confidential funds.

The vice president has denied any wrongdoing.

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Under the Constitution, impeachment is the only way to remove top officials from government including the President, Vice President, Supreme Court justices, Ombudsman, and members of Constitutional Commissions such as Comelec, Civil Service Commission, and Commission on Audit. 

“Hindi pwedeng gamitin ng isang impeachable public official ang kanyang mandato sa pamamagitan ng boto para lang hindi siya mapatalsik o mapaalis. Kasi kinakailangan, kahit Presidente ng Republika ay pwedeng ma-subject sa tinatawag natin na impeachment,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.

He noted that impeachment does not automatically mean removal from office since the official will still need to undergo trial in the Senate.

If found guilty, the vice president can be removed from office where she could face other criminal complaints, the Comelec chief said.