Prosecutors declare victory as Senate admits bulk of Duterte impeachment evidence

MANILA — Public prosecutor and Bicol party-list Rep. Terry Ridon characterized the Senate Impeachment Court's evidentiary rulings as a substantial win for the prosecution, even though some audit documents were excluded from the record. Ridon noted that the court's acceptance of most of their evidence submissions strengthened their case against the Vice President on charges of accumulated wealth that lacks clear source documentation.

The Senate's selective admission of evidence marks a pivotal moment in the high-profile impeachment proceeding, which has captured national attention. Ridon thanked the Senate in a video statement released Friday for its consideration of the prosecution's materials, underscoring that the bulk of their documented presentations had cleared the court's evidentiary threshold.

The impeachment trial has centered on allegations that Vice President Duterte accumulated substantial assets without adequate explanation of their origins. The prosecution's evidence strategy relied heavily on financial audits and documentation to substantiate claims of unexplained wealth, though some of these materials faced legal challenges regarding admissibility.