VP Duterte defense to proceed presenting evidence despite withdrawal of three charges

The defense team for Vice President Sara Duterte will proceed with presenting its evidence despite the prosecution’s decision to drop three of the four impeachment articles against her, lead defense counsel Sheila Sison said Tuesday.

Sison made the statement during the 39th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial after lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro announced that the prosecution would no longer pursue Articles I, III, and IV—which cover allegations of grave threats, misuse of confidential funds, and bribery.

The prosecution will now focus solely on Article II, which alleges that Duterte failed to fully disclose her assets and divest from business interests, raising questions about unexplained wealth.

“We respect the decision of the prosecution. However, whether this will affect how the defense plans to proceed with its presentation of evidence is something that we must make clear: It will not,” Sison said.

Sison stressed that the prosecution’s tactical shift should not dictate the defense's strategy, arguing that accusations already made in open court must still be formally scrutinized.

“The prosecution cannot make decisions for the respondent and the defense,” Sison added. “In other words, the prosecution cannot be allowed to have the benefit of its accusations without bearing the burden of having those accusations tested.”

Sison noted that over the preceding 38 days, the prosecution had used public resources to call witnesses, present evidence, and air damaging allegations before the public. Withdrawing three articles at this stage, she argued, deprives Duterte of her right to formally rebut those claims on record.

“We feel and we believe that this is not fairness, and it is not in keeping with the guarantees of due process, because the right to be heard is not merely satisfied by allowing the respondent some room to present evidence on her behalf,” Sison said. -Paraluman News