MANILA, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The prosecution panel for Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial has dropped three out of four articles, the lead public prosecutor and congressman Gerville Luistro said on Tuesday, according to local media reports.
Under the remaining article, Sara is alleged to have unexplained wealth that was not disclosed in the statement from 2022 to 2025. The prosecution stated the adjustments are intended to expedite the impeachment process.
Allowing the withdrawal, Senator Francis Escudero, presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court, ruled that senators would no longer vote on the withdrawn charges and that the defense would no longer be required to present evidence on them.
The two charges dropped on Tuesday alleged that Sara made grave threats against Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his family, and misused confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). Last week, the prosecution panel had already announced the withdrawal of the charge that Sara bribed Department of Education officials.
The Senate Impeachment Court will pause its trial from Wednesday and reconvene in November, when the defense is expected to present evidence and call witnesses.
Sara is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte. She announced her candidacy for the 2028 Philippine presidential election in February this year. The Philippine Senate in July commenced the impeachment trial against her.
Under the Philippine Constitution, if two-thirds or more of the senators vote in favor of the impeachment, Sara will be convicted, removed from office, and barred from holding public office for life. The Philippines has 24 senators, four of whom are currently unable to perform their duties due to detention, unknown whereabouts or medical leave abroad.
In September, the Senate impeachment court ruled that the basis for conviction votes shall only cover senators who remain legally and factually capable of taking part in the impeachment proceedings at the time of voting, a move seen as lowering the vote threshold for her impeachment conviction.
Multiple local opinion polls show Sara remains leading in the 2028 Philippine presidential election. ■
