Stuck screws in tailgate handle

Trying to replace my tailgate handle with the nice metal one, but these two screws keep spinning in place. Removal suggestions? I don’t need the old handle so am happy breaking it

 

Grind the heads off with an angle grinder.

 

If they just spin, either they are stripped in the insert or the insert is loose in the handle. Maybe you can use a drill to spin them enough to grind or melt and remaining material and push the handle off at the same time? If not then yeah, cut or drill the heads off and move on.

 

Try loose them with the pliers wrench first, if not successful, then grind the heads off.

 

If you can't get a grinder in there, try drilling it.
Start with a small drill bit then move up to a bigger one.

 

My question is, if they spin freely, what's preventing the handle from coming out?
If it is the inserts then it should pull off.
If it's the bolts, then adding some pressure to the handle while backing out on the screw should grab more.
or am I missing something?

 

Slip a thin screwdriver blade under the head of the screw or its washer and pry up while turning the screw. Worth a try.

 

Depending on how its stripped I could see the threads still binding enough to hold it on almost like a rivet. Spinning and prying with a screwdriver is a good idea but if that doesnt work holding the heads with some vice grips and then drilling the heads off shouldnt be too hard either. Might be worth using a decent sized drill bit (1/4in or so) or countersink first just to strip the phillips head and then going back to a smaller size. Id be worried of the phillips head snapping smaller bits from the get-go.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies.

As bkhlrTaco said, the handle was able to come out but I had to break it in two pieces with a trusty prybar. Then used penetrating oil on the nut and bolt, and was able to unscrew it while holding the bolt with a vice grip.

For anybody with a similar problem, its not too hard once you break the damn thing into pieces!