House prosecutors submit formal evidence in Duterte impeachment trial

MANILA — House prosecutors have formally submitted their evidentiary materials to the Senate impeachment court hearing the case against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to prosecution adviser Robert Ace Barbers on Wednesday.

Barbers confirmed that the prosecutorial panel delivered its evidence package to the Senate on Tuesday evening, containing bank records, tax documents, and corporate files relevant to the charges under consideration.

The submission of the formal offer of evidence marks a critical stage in the impeachment proceedings, as it provides the Senate court with documentary support for the prosecution's case. The evidence now becomes part of the official trial record that senators will review as they deliberate on the charges.

The Vice President faces impeachment proceedings in the Senate, with the trial expected to continue as both prosecution and defense present their respective cases before the chamber. The submission of formal evidence typically precedes the next phases of testimony and arguments in impeachment trials.

The Senate impeachment court is tasked with determining whether sufficient grounds exist to convict and remove the Vice President from office based on the evidence and arguments presented by both sides.