Vice-President Cleared of Three Charges, but Impeachment Proceedings Continue
The impeachment court agreed on Tuesday (13 October 2026) to withdraw most of the charges against Vice-President Sara Duterte. The Philippine Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, agreed to focus the proceedings on one principal allegation, as Duterte seeks to preserve her chances of running in the 2028 presidential election.
Since July, the prosecution team has presented evidence relating to several allegations against Duterte. She has been accused of betraying public trust, possessing unexplained wealth, violating the Constitution, and committing corruption, bribery and other serious offences.
Reuters reported that chief prosecutor Gerville Luistro told the court on Tuesday that the prosecution was seeking to withdraw three of the four charges. The allegation of unexplained wealth will therefore be the only remaining charge for senators to decide.
Luistro maintained that the evidence already presented by the prosecution was “substantial and compelling” enough to justify Duterte’s removal from office.
The three withdrawn charges concerned the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the First Lady and a former speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives.
Luistro said concentrating the proceedings on one charge would significantly narrow the issues the court must consider. He said the move would also offer practical benefits to the Senate, the respondent and the public.
Duterte’s lawyer said the decision was unfair, arguing that dropping several charges would deprive the defence of the opportunity to respond to allegations that would no longer be heard.
The impeachment court had earlier ruled that only senators attending the proceedings would count towards the vote on Duterte’s guilt or innocence. This makes it easier to reach the two-thirds majority required for a guilty verdict.
If convicted, Duterte could lose the right to run for public office, including in the 2028 Philippine presidential election.