Presidential adviser Gadon urges VP Sara Duterte to resign

Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Secretary Larry Gadon on Monday called on Vice President Sara Duterte to step down from office ahead of her impeachment trial.

Gadon said he wants Duterte to resign as Vice President because her “violations” are now open to the public, referring to the issues on confidential funds and her alleged threats to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. 

Should Duterte resign, Gadon said she could “start on a clean slate” and still run for president in 2028, which she would not be able to do if she were convicted by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court. 

“I suggest that VP Sara Duterte should resign and not wait for the impeachment trial to proceed. Kailangan mag-resign siya para pwede pa siyang tumakbo sa [she needs to resign now so she can still run in the] 2028 for presidential elections,” he said. 

“Gustong gusto ko siyang tumakbo kasi gusto ko silang mapahiya na talagang wala naman talagang boto ang Duterte. Masyado lang silang nagke-claim na number one, number one mga ganyan pero actually, hindi. Walang boto ang Duterte,” he added. 

(I want her to run in 2028 because I want her to be embarrassed when she sees that no one is voting for her. The Dutertes just claim that they are number one, but that is not the truth. The Dutertes have no votes.) 

GMA News Online sought a comment from the Office of the Vice President, and will update this story once it responds. 

Earlier this month, Duterte said that she is not contemplating resigning after the House of Representatives impeached her.

 "Wala pa tayo doon. Masyado pang malayo 'yung mga ganyan na mga bagay," Duterte said in a press conference.

(We are not there yet. That’s still far away.)

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with 215 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate the same day, with an additional 25 congressmen later signing, bringing the total to 240.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, meanwhile, said that the impeachment trial of Duterte will most likely start after the President's State of the Nation Address on July 21 under the 20th Congress.

Last November, Gadon also filed a complaint before the Supreme Court to disbar Duterte, a lawyer.

Gadon, who is a disbarred lawyer himself, urged the High Court to initiate a motu proprio proceeding of disbarment against Duterte following her statement that she hired someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself is killed. — BM, GMA Integrated News