The House prosecution on Tuesday announced it would drop three of the four impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte and pursue her removal from office solely on the charge of unexplained wealth.
House lead prosecutor Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro of Batangas informed the Senate impeachment court that the prosecution would no longer pursue Article I on confidential funds, Article III on bribery and Article IV on grave threats.
“Today, the prosecution respectfully manifests that it will no longer pursue three of them. It will stand on one, and that is Article II on unexplained wealth,” Luistro told the senator-judges.
She said the prosecution believes the evidence already presented on Article II is sufficient to warrant Duterte’s conviction and removal from office.
“We believe that evidence is substantial and compelling and warrants the respondent’s removal from office for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust,” Luistro said.
Article II covers allegations of unexplained wealth, violations involving Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) and prohibited business interests.
“We believe we have provided sufficient evidence on all these allegations,” Luistro said.
The prosecution’s decision follows weeks of testimony from government officials, bank and insurance representatives and forensic accounting expert concerning Duterte’s financial records, assets and business interests.
Luistro said narrowing the case to Article II would also reduce the matters requiring consideration by the impeachment court, including documentary evidence and objections from the defense.
“In the prosecution’s assessment, concentrating on this article is the most judicious course, consistent with the evidence and our duty to the nation,” she said.
She cited the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, during which the prosecution also withdrew certain articles and proceeded with the remaining charges.
Luistro said that precedent recognized the prosecution’s authority to determine which impeachment articles to pursue.
32 Witnesses Dropped
Luistro said some 32 witnesses will no longer be called to the witness stand.
“This reflects the prosecution’s considered decision to focus its case only on the witnesses absolutely necessary for each article,” she said.
Luistro said the prosecution had originally identified 10 witnesses for the grave threats charge but presented only three.
For the confidential funds charge, it presented 11 of 27 listed witnesses.
For the unexplained wealth charge, the prosecution presented 11 of 15 listed witnesses, excluding individual bank and insurance representatives.
It also decided not to present any of the five witnesses originally identified for the bribery charge.
The prosecution’s final witness, forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera, earlier presented findings of approximately PHP817.87 million in allegedly unexplained wealth involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, from 2022 to 2025.
The prosecution also presented records from banks, insurance companies and government agencies to support its allegations concerning Duterte’s assets, income, and business interests.
“By focusing on one article, the matters requiring the impeachment court’s consideration are correspondingly narrowed, with practical benefits for the Senate, the respondent, and even the public,” Luistro said.
Duterte has disputed the prosecution’s evidence and accused it of fabricating allegations against her.
The Senate impeachment court will determine whether the evidence is sufficient to establish the charges and warrant conviction. (PNA)