Impeachment prosecutors have dropped the bribery charge against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte as they seek to speed up the trial that could have implications on the 2028 election.
“We have already presented enough,” Jonathan Keith Flores, one of the prosecutors from the House of Representatives, told reporters on Friday. “To drag it further by including bribery might be stretching the patience not only of the people, but also of the senator-judges.”
The prosecution team will end with Article II, which refers to allegations that Duterte amassed unexplained wealth while in public office and failed to truthfully declare assets, Flores said. The Senate, acting as an impeachment court, had been informed of the decision early this week, he said.
The other two articles of impeachment related to accusations that Duterte threatened to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and misused public funds have been earlier tackled by the court, which began the trial in July. The remaining bribery charge alleges that the vice president gave monetary gifts to officials to circumvent procurement laws. The vice president has denied wrongdoing.
Duterte, daughter of detained former President Rodrigo Duterte, has declared her intention to succeed Marcos, who is constitutionally required to step down in 2028 due to a term limit.
“The decision to not proceed with bribery had nothing to do with the strength of the case,” Flores said. “We’re conscious about the timetable.”
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Last month, senator-judges ruled that the constitutional requirement for a two-thirds vote to convict the vice president covers only those present in the trial, not all 24 members of the chamber.
With four senators aligned with Duterte currently absent from trial due to legal cases and medical leave, the ruling effectively lowers the bar for a guilty verdict, which could result in Duterte’s ouster and perpetual ban from public office.