{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 2042466,
        "msgid": "vice-president-cleared-of-three-charges-but-impeachment-proceedings-continue-1792245020",
        "date": "2026-10-17 20:30:00",
        "title": "Vice-President Cleared of Three Charges, but Impeachment Proceedings Continue",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNBC",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "The Philippine Senate impeachment court has agreed to drop three of the four charges against Vice-President Sara Duterte, leaving an allegation of unexplained wealth as the sole issue for decision. The move narrows the proceedings as Duterte seeks to preserve her eligibility to run for president in 2028; a conviction could bar her from public office.",
        "content": "<p>The impeachment court agreed on Tuesday (13 October 2026) to withdraw\nmost of the charges against Vice-President Sara Duterte. The Philippine\nSenate, sitting as an impeachment court, agreed to focus the proceedings\non one principal allegation, as Duterte seeks to preserve her chances of\nrunning in the 2028 presidential election.<\/p>\n<p>Since July, the prosecution team has presented evidence relating to\nseveral allegations against Duterte. She has been accused of betraying\npublic trust, possessing unexplained wealth, violating the Constitution,\nand committing corruption, bribery and other serious offences.<\/p>\n<p>Reuters reported that chief prosecutor Gerville Luistro told the\ncourt on Tuesday that the prosecution was seeking to withdraw three of\nthe four charges. The allegation of unexplained wealth will therefore be\nthe only remaining charge for senators to decide.<\/p>\n<p>Luistro maintained that the evidence already presented by the\nprosecution was \u201csubstantial and compelling\u201d enough to justify Duterte\u2019s\nremoval from office.<\/p>\n<p>The three withdrawn charges concerned the alleged misuse of\nconfidential funds, bribery, and threats against President Ferdinand\nMarcos Jr, the First Lady and a former speaker of the Philippine House\nof Representatives.<\/p>\n<p>Luistro said concentrating the proceedings on one charge would\nsignificantly narrow the issues the court must consider. He said the\nmove would also offer practical benefits to the Senate, the respondent\nand the public.<\/p>\n<p>Duterte\u2019s lawyer said the decision was unfair, arguing that dropping\nseveral charges would deprive the defence of the opportunity to respond\nto allegations that would no longer be heard.<\/p>\n<p>The impeachment court had earlier ruled that only senators attending\nthe proceedings would count towards the vote on Duterte\u2019s guilt or\ninnocence. This makes it easier to reach the two-thirds majority\nrequired for a guilty verdict.<\/p>\n<p>If convicted, Duterte could lose the right to run for public office,\nincluding in the 2028 Philippine presidential election.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vice-president-cleared-of-three-charges-but-impeachment-proceedings-continue-1792245020",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}