The House prosecution panel on Tuesday dropped three of the four articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, deciding to focus its case solely on allegations of unexplained wealth.
In a manifestation during the 39th day of the impeachment trial, lead House prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said the prosecution would no longer pursue the articles concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats, leaving Article II as the sole focus of its case against Duterte.
“Four articles of impeachment were filed against the respondent, the Vice President. Today, the prosecution respectfully manifest that it will no longer pursue three of them. It will stand on one and that is Article II on unexplained wealth,” Luistro said.
“The prosecution believes it has presented sufficient evidence for Article 2 to stand on its own. We are all in here. We believe we have presented sufficient evidence that warrants her removal from office for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust,” Luistro said.
Article II accuses Duterte of having unexplained wealth allegedly not reflected in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) from 2022 to 2025. It also covers allegations involving SALN violations and prohibited business interests.
She explained that the prosecution had decided to concentrate on Article II, expressing confidence that the evidence presented was substantial enough for the charge to stand on its own.
“All in po tayo dito,” Luistro said.
The prosecution said the decision was also intended to expedite the impeachment proceedings, maintaining that the evidence and witnesses it had presented were sufficient to support its case against Duterte.
To support its decision, the prosecution cited the 2011 impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, in which the prosecution similarly withdrew some articles of impeachment and proceeded with the remaining charges.
“The prosecution formally manifests its withdrawal of and intention to no longer pursue Article I on confidential funds, Article III on bribery, and Article IV on threats,” Luistro said.
