Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang said it would not interfere in the House prosecution panel’s decision to withdraw three articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, maintaining that the Marcos administration supports truth, transparency and accountability.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Palace would respect the prosecution’s legal strategy and the decisions of the Senate impeachment court.

“We are all for the truth. We are all for transparency and accountability,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.

“Pero kung ito po ang legal na estratehiya ng prosecution, hindi po natin makukuwestiyon kung ano man ‘yung kanilang desisyon,” she added.

[Translation: But if this is the prosecution’s legal strategy, we cannot question its decision.]

The House prosecution panel withdrew Articles I, III and IV or the misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats, leaving allegations of unexplained wealth under Article II as the remaining charge against Duterte.

Castro said prosecutors were in the best position to determine which evidence could support their case.

“Actually, isa lang naman po ang kakailanganin kung kinakailangan na maipakita na dapat na ma-impeach ang Bise Presidente,” she said.

[Translation: Actually, only one is needed if it can be shown that the vice president should be impeached.]

Castro stressed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the executive branch would not interfere in the impeachment proceedings.

“Ang administrasyon, ang ehekutibo, si pangulo at ang administrasyon na ito ay hindi po nakikialam kung ano man ang ginagawa ng prosecution, kung ano man ang magiging desisyon ng senator-judges dito sa impeachment trial,” she said.

[Translation: The administration, the executive branch and the president are not interfering in the prosecution’s actions or whatever decisions the senator-judges make in the impeachment trial.]