Politics · Philippines Bureau
Prosecution drops remaining witnesses in Duterte impeachment trial
The House prosecution panel has withdrawn its final 15 witnesses in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte concerning alleged misuse of confidential funds. The move significantly streamlines the proceedings on the first article of impeachment.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA – The House prosecution panel on Tuesday formally withdrew all remaining witnesses scheduled to testify in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, specifically those related to the first article concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
The prosecution counsel announced the decision to forgo not only the witnesses subpoenaed for the day but all 15 remaining witnesses previously scheduled to present evidence on the matter. The development marks a significant shift in the prosecution's strategy as the trial continues before the House of Representatives sitting as an impeachment court.
The first impeachment article against the Vice President centers on questions regarding her utilization of confidential and intelligence funds during her tenure as Davao City mayor. The withdrawal of witnesses represents a consolidation of the prosecution's case presentation at a critical juncture of the proceedings.
The impeachment trial, which began following the filing of articles against Duterte in December 2024, has drawn significant public and political attention. The decision to streamline witness testimony may expedite the presentation of the prosecution's evidence before the House moves to consider other charges.