MANILA— The House prosecution team on Tuesday moved to withdraw three of the four articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, opting to pursue only the charge of unexplained wealth before the Senate impeachment court.

Lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro told senator-judges that the prosecution would no longer pursue Article I on the alleged misuse of confidential funds, Article III on bribery, and Article IV on grave threats.

“Four articles of impeachment were filed against the respondent vice president. Today, the prosecution respectfully manifests that we will no longer pursue three of them. It will stand on one: that is Article II on unexplained wealth,” Luistro said.

She maintained that the evidence presented under Article II was sufficient to justify Duterte’s conviction and removal from office.

“We believe that evidence is substantial and compelling, and warrants the respondent’s removal from office for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust,” she said.

Article II covers allegations of unexplained wealth, violations involving statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs), and prohibited business interests.

“We believe we have provided sufficient evidence on all these allegations,” Luistro said.

The prosecution’s move drew objections from defense lead counsel Sheila Sison, who argued that allowing the withdrawal could deprive Duterte of the opportunity to challenge evidence already presented against her under the other articles.

“The prosecution would thus retain the benefit of having its evidence heard while the respondent would be at risk of being denied the benefit of having that evidence contradicted, and we feel and believe that this is not fairness and it is not keeping with the guarantees of due process because the right to be heard is not merely satisfied by allowing the respondent some room to present evidence on her behalf,” Sison said.

Sison also reiterated the defense’s request for the court to take judicial notice of relevant legal doctrines, including the piercing of the corporate veil, following the testimony of forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera.

Cabrera had identified PHP817.87 million in alleged unexplained wealth involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, from 2022 to 2025.

The defense argued that Cabrera had presented conclusions of law and fact based on his analysis of the vice president’s financial records.

Presiding officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero clarified that the prosecution could not unilaterally withdraw the articles, as the decision rests with the impeachment court.

“It is not solely the prosecution’s call to withdraw an article of impeachment, but neither is it the respondent’s call to deny the same,” Escudero said before declaring a recess to consult with fellow senator-judges.

“Once articles of impeachment are filed before the court, or any complaint filed before any court for that matter, it is already subject to and under the jurisdiction and disposition of the court, not by the parties, so we take this manifestation as a motion that will be acted upon by the court,” he added.

The impeachment trial began on July 6. Over 38 hearing dates, the House prosecution panel has completed its presentation of evidence on Articles I, II, and IV.

Before Tuesday’s development, Duterte’s defense team had been preparing to present evidence to counter the prosecution’s allegations under Articles I, II, and IV.

A conviction by the Senate impeachment court would result in Duterte’s removal from office and permanent disqualification from holding public office. The vice president earlier declared her intention to run for president in the 2028 national elections.

Escudero had yet to rule on the prosecution’s motion as of the latest report.