Politics · Philippines Bureau
Impeachment prosecutors drop bribery charges against VP Duterte
The prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial has formally withdrawn Article III of the charges, which alleged she offered bribes to Department of Education officials and other government figures. The decision was announced by Bukidnon Representative Jonathan Keith Flores during a Friday press briefing.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Prosecutors handling the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte have dropped allegations that she dispensed bribes to various officials, according to court filings submitted this week. The withdrawal removes Article III from the Articles of Impeachment, which had accused the Vice President of offering payments to Department of Education personnel, a public prosecutor, and other government representatives. Bukidnon Representative Jonathan Keith Flores, speaking for the prosecution panel, confirmed the development during a press briefing on Friday. The move streamlines the impeachment trial by narrowing the scope of charges the Vice President must face. The remaining articles of impeachment are expected to proceed through the legislative body tasked with hearing the case. Flores did not immediately elaborate on the reasoning behind the prosecution's decision to abandon the bribery allegations, which had been among the more serious accusations leveled against the Vice President.