Prosecution drops all cases vs Sara Duterte except unexplained wealth

Lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro makes a manifestation during day six of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 15, 2026.

Senate Social Media Unit

'The prosecution believes it has presented sufficient evidence for Article 2 to stand on its own. We are all in here,' lead prosecutor Jinky Luistro says

AT A GLANCE

• The prosecution in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial has decided to withdraw all but one article, retaining only the unexplained wealth case to expedite proceedings.
• Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro stated that focusing on a single article would narrow the court's considerations and benefit all parties involved.
• The defense team expressed concerns about the implications of dropping charges, emphasizing the importance of due process and the right to fully present their case.

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MANILA, Philippines – The prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has moved to withdraw all but one of the articles of impeachment to expedite the proceedings.

In an open court manifestation on Tuesday, October 13, lead prosecutor Gerville “Jinky” Luistro said they would retain only the unexplained wealth case against the Vice President, dropping the impeachment articles against Duterte on alleged confidential fund misuse, bribery, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“The prosecution believes it has presented sufficient evidence for Article 2 to stand on its own. We are all in here. We believe that evidence is substantial and compelling, and warrants the respondent’s removal from office for culpable violation of Constitution and betrayal of public trust,” Luistro said.

“Had we proceeded on all four articles, the impeachment court will have had to consider the evidence offered for each together with the corresponding objections and arguments. By focusing on one article, the matters requiring the impeachment court’s consideration are correspondingly narrow, with practical benefits, for the Senate, for the respondent, and even the public,” Luistro added.

Responding to the move, the defense team said that while the prosecution has the prerogative to drop cases, it cannot dictate the defense on how the Duterte camp would proceed.

“The prosecution cannot be allowed to have the benefit of its accusations without bearing the burden of having those accusations tested,” said defense lawyer Sheila Sison.

Sison also warned of a mistrial, should the prosecution’s dropping of cases force the defense team to shorten its presentation of evidence.

“That prerogative to withdraw an accusation is not the power to suppress its rebuttal on the part of the respondent,” Sison said. “The authority to streamline or to achieve speed in a trial is not the authority to diminish due process or to altogether disregard fundamental rules of fairness and the desire to reach a verdict.” – Rappler.com