House prosecutors drop bribery article in Duterte trial to meet timetable

Metro Manila, Philippines – The House prosecution panel confirmed Friday, Oct. 9, that it would no longer present evidence on the bribery allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing its self-imposed timetable for the impeachment trial.

House prosecutor and Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores said the panel had filed a manifestation with the Senate Impeachment Court on Tuesday, Oct. 6, formally informing senator-judges of its decision to forego Article III, or the bribery allegations.

The prosecution will instead conclude its presentation of evidence with Article II, which covers allegations of unexplained wealth, false statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth, and failure to divest business interest..

Flores said the prosecution panel did not need the impeachment court’s approval to drop the article from its presentation.

“It’s totally at the discretion of the prosecution team po kung anong articles ang ipo-prosecute nila,” Flores said.

[Translation: It’s the discretion of the prosecution team on which article to prosecute]

“We just informed the court. No more, no need for them to approve. That’s why it was through a manifestation not a motion,” he added.

House prosecutor Rodge Gutierrez clarified that the decision was based on time constraints and did not reflect the strength of the bribery allegations.

“The decision to not proceed with the bribery had nothing to do with the strength of the case,” Gutierrez said.

“Ang amin dito is we’re conscious about the timetable that the prosecution set for us to prosecute the entire articles of impeachment and kaso hindi na siya kasya or pasok doon sa timetable that we set ourselves,” he explained.

[Translation: We are conscious of the timetable the prosecution set for presenting all the impeachment articles, but the bribery article would no longer fit within that schedule.]

Gutierrez said each impeachment article can stand on its own.

“Each article has its own strengths and witnesses,” he said.

The prosecution seeks to complete its presentation of evidence in the impeachment trial.

Duterte faces allegations involving grave threats, misuse of confidential funds, and unexplained wealth.