Politics · Philippines Bureau
Prosecution to formally withdraw bribery charge in Duterte impeachment trial
The prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial is set to file a manifestation formally abandoning the bribery charge against her, according to a statement from Manila Representative Joel Chua.
LSN Philippines ·
Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro will submit the prosecution's official manifestation dropping the bribery allegation, Chua disclosed on Sunday. The move represents a significant development in the high-profile impeachment proceeding that has dominated Philippine political discourse in recent weeks.
The decision to withdraw the bribery charge comes after deliberations among members of the prosecution panel tasked with presenting the case against the Vice President. Chua indicated the manifestation would be filed during the trial proceedings, marking a formal step in narrowing the charges in the case.
The bribery charge was among several allegations leveled against Duterte in the impeachment complaint. The withdrawal of this particular count does not preclude the prosecution from pursuing other charges that remain part of the formal complaint before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
The timing of the announcement underscores the fluid nature of impeachment trials, where prosecution teams have the latitude to reassess their evidence and legal strategy as proceedings advance. The withdrawal may signal prosecutorial recognition of evidentiary challenges or strategic calculations regarding the strength of the bribery allegations.