Malacañang on dropping articles in Sara Duterte impeachment trial: That's prosecution's strategy

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Malacañang on Wednesday said it will not question the legal strategy of the House prosecution panel to withdraw three of the four Articles of Impeachment leveled against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Well everybody, we are all for the truth, we are all for transparency and accountability. Pero kung ito ang legal na estratehiya ng prosecution, hindi po natin maku-kwestyon kung anuman ang kanilang desisyon,” Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said.

(Well we are all for the truth, we are all for transparency and accountability. But if this is the prosecution’s legal strategy, we cannot question whatever decision they have made.)

“Kung ‘yun po ang nakikita nila, sila naman ang mga prosecutors, so mas kabisado po nila kung ano ‘yung mas malakas nila na mga ebidensya,” she added.

(If that is how the prosecution sees it, then so be it. After all, they are the prosecutors, so they are the ones who know which pieces of evidence are stronger.)

During the trial on Tuesday, the prosecution manifested that they would no longer pursue Articles I, III and IV against the Vice President, detailing allegations of misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats.

With the decision, the prosecution would only push for Article II, which concerns allegations that Duterte failed to fully declare her assets and divest from business interests, raising questions about her unexplained wealth.

The Senate impeachment court has accepted the move by the prosecution to withdraw three of the four impeachment articles.

Castro said that the Vice President could address the allegations against her in other ways.

“Kung ano ang naipikta nilang (prosecution) mga ebidensya at mga dokumento, ‘yun siguro ang mananatili sa isipan natin,” she said.

(Whatever evidence and documents the prosecution has presented, that is likely what will remain in our minds.)

“Ang respondent na si Bise Presidente, ay maaari namang tugunan ito sa maraming pamamaraan. Sabi nga natin, kung noon pa…naipaliwanag ng Bise Presidente, especially patungkol sa confi funds, hindi na nga po siguro aabot sa impeachment trial,” she added.

(The respondent, the Vice President, could address these in various ways. As we’ve said, if the Vice President had addressed it earlier, especially the allegations regarding the confidential funds, it probably won’t even have to reach an impeachment trial.) —VAL, GMA News