Impeachment court approves prosec’s move to drop 3 of 4 charges vs VP

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court on Tuesday allowed the House prosecution panel’s move to withdraw all but impeachment article II or Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth.

“The court accepts and confirms the prosecution’s manifestation… Articles I, III and IV from this point forward are hereby withdrawn,” Presiding Officer Francis Escudero said.

After 38 days of presentation, lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro made the manifestation expressing intent to no longer pursue article I, III, and IV, referring to Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery and grave threats, respectively.

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Luistro said their evidence for article II would be enough to convict Duterte, and it would be more practical for the court to only consider one charge instead of four to expedite the process and to give leeway to the Senate to engage in its legislative processes.

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Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison criticized the move saying that in doing so the prosecution had wasted the resources of the impeachment court and it would force the already “compromised” the defense not to present its own evidence.

Sison further that due process must not be trumped by the need to expedite the impeachment trial. /gsg