Politics · Philippines Bureau
Palace denies public funds wasted as impeachment articles withdrawn
Malacañan dismissed concerns about fiscal waste following the Senate impeachment court's approval to withdraw three of four charges against Vice President Sara Duterte. The prosecution panel retained only allegations involving unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Palace maintained Thursday that the withdrawal of three impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte involved no misuse of public resources. The Senate impeachment court had approved the House prosecution panel's motion to drop the charges, streamlining the case to focus on two remaining allegations.
The retained articles center on accusations of unexplained wealth and the vice president's failure to disclose assets, according to impeachment proceedings. The decision to withdraw the other charges followed what the prosecution panel determined were insufficient grounds to proceed with those particular counts.
Malacañan's statement came as observers questioned the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the prolonged impeachment proceedings. Officials emphasized that the legislative process operated within established protocols and that no taxpayer funds were diverted through the withdrawal process itself.
The scaled-down impeachment case continues in the Senate, with the remaining articles expected to move forward under the chamber's established rules and procedures. Vice President Duterte has denied all allegations and maintained her commitment to cooperate fully with the impeachment process.