Prosecutors weigh skipping bribery article to shorten Duterte trial
MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutors are considering skipping one of the four articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte for the Senate trial and moving from the current confidential-funds charge directly to the unexplained wealth article.
Saying the panel is aiming to finish presenting their case by October, Rep. Joel Chua admitted the bribery charge may take a back seat for the body to proceed instead to the larger allegations on Duterte's supposed wealth.
"Well, that is possible," Chua said in a TV5 interview on Wednesday, September 2.
Chua pointed to the previous grave threats and the ongoing confidential fund debates as already substantial.
"We are looking at the strong arguments on our two articles. So, we would just add another article that we think we really can't skip—that is, the unexplained wealth, which everyone is looking forward to," Chua said in Filipino.
Where the trial is at now
The prosecution first presented Article IV, involving Duterte's alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez.
It is now presenting Article I, which accuses Duterte of misuse, misappropriation and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds released to the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, when Duterte was secretary.
Former DepEd undersecretary, chief of staff and spokesperson Michael Wesley Poa is currently on the witness stand as prosecutors examine the department's use and liquidation of confidential funds.
If prosecutors finish Article I and move directly to Article II on unexplained wealth, Article III, which accuses Duterte of bribery and graft involving alleged cash payments to DepEd officials, could be left out of the prosecution's presentation.
The unexplained wealth article accuses Duterte of amassing assets disproportionate to her and hur husband's lawful income, failing to fully disclose assets and financial interests in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, and continuing business interests while serving as vice president.
Avoiding a prolonged trial
Chua said prosecutors expect to finish presenting evidence on the confidential-funds article in the next few trial days before moving on to another charge.
"We expect that by next week, we're done," he said in the same interview.
The prosecution does not want proceedings to stretch into 2027, he said, particularly because Duterte's defense team will still have to present its own evidence after the House rests its case.
"We also don't want a protracted hearing. We don't want that stretch this out to next year," Chua said.
He floated a timeline under which the prosecution could finish by October and the defense by November, noting that the two sides may call some of the same witnesses.
"So, we hope by December, we already have a decision from the impeachment court," Chua said, referring to the body of senator-judges. The panel needs 16 votes to oust Duterte from office and ban her from future public posts she might pursue.
The four articles approved by the House accuse Duterte of offenses involving confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged bribery of DepEd officials and alleged threats against Marcos and others. — with reports from Cristina Chi
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