Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Presiding Officer Francis Escudero leading the Senate impeachment court. Photo by Joseph Vidal/Senate Social Media Unit
Anna Mogato | October 13, 2026
MANILA — After 38 days of presenting witnesses and evidence, the Senate impeachment court has agreed to drop three of the four articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, speeding up the trial proceedings.
Lead prosecutor Representative Gerville Luistro on Tuesday manifested that the cases of grave threats, misuse of confidential funds, and bribery would be dropped, and will instead stand on the latest article presented: unexplained wealth of Duterte and her husband.
“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 told the Senate impeachment court.
Luistro also said that they had come to the decision after “a careful study” of what would most benefit the impeachment court, the public, and even Duterte herself.
“Considering the equally important legislative functions that [the Senate needs] to face as well, this includes the regular bills pending before the Senate, and most importantly, the much anticipated General Appropriations Acts of 2027.”
Luistro also argued that the Defense panel was given the opportunity to participate through “their lengthy, extensive, engaging cross examination where they were able to present their documents as well to the public.”
“And if the desire of the defense is to be able to share all the pieces of evidence that they have, there are a lot of platforms they may consider, if the intention only is to share this [evidence] publicly.”
Only three of 10 witnesses were presented for the grave threats case, while 11 of the 27 named witnesses were presented for the confidential funds case.
The latest case, unexplained wealth, only heard 11 of the 15 named witnesses.
None of the five witnesses for the bribery case were presented as the prosecution earlier mentioned the case would be dropped, noting that the earlier presented articles of impeachment are strong enough to convict Duterte.
Attorney Sheila Sison, lead defense counsel, called the prosecution’s manifestation “unbelievable” and “unacceptable”.
“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,” Sison said.
“We feel and believe that this is not fair 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.”
Presiding Officer Senator-judge Francis Escudero accepted the prosecution’s manifestation to drop three articles of impeachment, relaxing the sub judice rule for these cases. This means that both prosecution and defense can speak on the merits of these withdrawn cases.
However, the documents and transcripts during the earlier articles of impeachment will still be available for senator judges for review.
Escudero also ruled that the articles of grave threats and confidential funds may not be revived during the duration of the trial proceedings, nor will these cases be filed again while the 20th Congress is in session.
The third case, bribery, is withdrawn without prejudice as it was not heard by the court.
The Senate impeachment court, which will start its break tomorrow, will resume hearings again on November 9 to hear the side of Duterte’s defense team.