The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, hold oral arguments on the disputed voting threshold in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The prosecution and defense presented their respective positions on whether the 16-vote threshold for conviction should remain, as senator-judges consider how the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds vote should be applied in deciding the impeachment case. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — A member of the prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday confirmed they are dropping the bribery accusation against her, citing “sufficient” evidence on the other three articles and an intention to shorten the proceedings.
“Sa tingin namin, medyo tatlo na yung napapatunayan namin at tingin naman namin enough na para at least hindi na tayo abutin next year,” House prosecutor Joel Chua of Manila told DZMM Teleradyo.
(As we see it, we have been able to prove three articles already and we think that is enough, so at least trial will not continue into next year.)
The third article of impeachment accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust for allegedly bribing officials of the Department of Education during her stint as secretary from 2022 to 2024.
Chua disputed that the prosecution is dropping the article due to weak evidence.
The prosecution last month said it may drop the bribery article should the evidence on other articles be enough, but later said it will still present evidence related to the accusation.
PROSECUTION ENDING SOON
The Manila representative said the prosecution had intended to finish its presentation next week but ran into delays.
The court postponed the trial until Monday next week to give the defense time to study records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison has said Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura’s direct and cross-examination would require scrutiny of 23 to 24 boxes of documents.
Without the bribery article, the prosecution would finish its case after presenting Buenaventura and officials from banks, insurance companies and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
The Senate impeachment court is currently tackling the second article of impeachment, which accuses Duterte of amassing unexplained wealth, committing Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth violations, and failing to divest from business interests.
Chua said the prosecution hopes for the trial to end within the year, although the pace still depends on the defense, whose presentation will come after the prosecution’s.
Impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol earlier said the court may come up with a verdict by December 16.
Prosecution to present Sara Duterte, Mans Carpio financial records next week
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