On Tuesday, the prosecution panel withdrew three of the four Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, focusing solely on the charge related to alleged "unexplained wealth." This decision was announced during the 39th day of the impeachment trial in the Senate Impeachment Court.
Batangas 2nd District lead prosecutor, Atty. Gerville "Jinky" Luistro, communicated the prosecution's choice to continue with only Article II, which addresses allegations of Duterte's sudden increase in wealth. The other articles related to the use of confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats were officially dropped.
Luistro expressed confidence in the evidence against Duterte, claiming it is "substantial and compelling," and serves as a basis for her removal from office due to culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.
This decision aligns with previous impeachment proceedings, including that of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, where the prosecution similarly withdrew charges and focused on those with stronger evidence.
Article II encompasses accusations of unexplained wealth, violations of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), and alleged involvement in prohibited businesses. The prosecution aims to expedite the impeachment trial so senators can render a decision quickly and concentrate on other legislative responsibilities, including deliberations on the proposed PHP 7.2 trillion national budget for 2027.
Senate presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero accepted the prosecution's request to drop the three articles, allowing the trial to proceed on the remaining allegation.