Constitution bars VP from other profession, business – witness

The Philippine Constitution prohibits the Vice President from holding another office, engaging in another profession, or participating in a business while in office to avoid conflicts of interest, a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawyer testified. Gerardo Del Rosario, a lawyer from the SEC, explained this point when asked by prosecution counsel Erwin Matib, citing Article XI, Section 2 of the Constitution. This section stipulates the prohibition of concurrent positions for public officials, including the Vice President. This testimony raises public discussion regarding potential conflicts of interest between the Vice President's duties and other activities. In the Philippines, the Vice President often assumes significant governmental roles, and involvement in the private sector could raise concerns about the impartiality of public service. The Philippine Constitution has strict provisions to ensure the integrity and accountability of public officials, and the prohibition of concurrent positions for the Vice President is one such example. This provision aims to guarantee that public officials perform their duties for the benefit of the entire nation.