Philippine Prosecutors Drop Three of Four Impeachment Charges Against Vice President Sara Duterte

House prosecutors withdrew three of the four impeachment charges against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday. The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, approved the move. The trial will continue on the single remaining charge of unexplained wealth.

Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro told the court that the prosecution would no longer pursue the other three articles. She said the evidence already presented on unexplained wealth was substantial and compelling enough to support a conviction on its own. The dropped charges included allegations of misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The court ruled that the confidential funds and threats articles were withdrawn with prejudice. They cannot be revived, refiled, or prosecuted again against Duterte during her current term or in the 20th Congress. The bribery article was withdrawn without prejudice because no evidence had been presented on it during the trial.

Presiding Officer Senator Francis Escudero accepted the manifestation. He noted that once articles are transmitted to the Senate, their disposition requires action by the impeachment court. The defense argued that the withdrawal was unfair because prosecutors had already presented evidence on some of the dropped charges in public hearings. The court lifted sub judice restrictions on public discussion of the withdrawn articles.

Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has been on trial since July. Conviction on any charge would permanently bar her from elected office and end her prospects for a 2028 presidential run. The remaining charge accuses her of failing to declare assets as required by law and of holding prohibited business interests. Prosecutors have presented testimony from anti-money laundering and tax officials, along with banking and insurance representatives. A forensic accounting expert earlier cited findings of P817.87 million in allegedly unexplained wealth for Duterte and her spouse between 2022 and 2025.

The decision to narrow the case comes after weeks of evidence presentation. Luistro cited public impatience with a trial that began in 2024 and the Senate's pending work on the 2027 national budget. Duterte's camp has said the withdrawal shows the original allegations lacked basis. The court still must hear the defense case on the wealth charge and then vote. A two-thirds majority of participating senator-judges is required for conviction.

The narrowed trial removes two of the most politically charged allegations from formal adjudication. The threats charge, in particular, had drawn intense public attention. With those articles closed with prejudice, the remaining proceedings will focus on financial records and declarations. That focus may produce a more technical trial, but the political stakes remain high. A conviction would still end Duterte's path to the presidency in 2028. An acquittal would leave her free to run.