Prosecutors may drop Duterte bribery charge if evidence stalls

MANILA — The prosecution team handling Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case may be forced to withdraw the bribery charge if they cannot present sufficient evidence before the Senate pivots to deliberating the 2027 national budget, according to prosecution spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr.

Tolosa said prosecutors are targeting mid-October as their deadline to conclude evidence presentation against Duterte. This timeline becomes critical as the Senate's focus is expected to shift to budget discussions, potentially interrupting the trial proceedings.

The bribery charge is among multiple accusations leveled against the Vice President in the impeachment case. The prosecution's ability to maintain this particular count depends on their capacity to lay out their case within the compressed timeframe before the Senate's legislative calendar changes.

The trial represents a significant political development in the Philippines, with the prosecution working against institutional constraints that could reshape the scope of charges Duterte faces. Should the deadline pass without evidence being presented, the bribery charge would join other potential casualties of the Senate's competing priorities.