VP Sara Duterte: Dropping of charges proves lack of evidence

Vice President Sara Duterte is doubling down on her defense, asserting that the prosecution’s decision to drop bribery charges against her is proof that the impeachment case lacks solid evidence.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), Duterte maintained that the allegations were baseless from the very start.

“Yung pag-drop ng bribery charge sa impeachment, ito 'yung sinasabi namin sa simula pa lang... na walang ebidensiya lahat ng kanilang akusasyon,” Duterte said, accusing prosecutors of using the trial for character assassination.

She added that the proceedings are less about accountability and more about an ongoing effort to remove her from office.

The House prosecution panel withdrew Article III—which accused Duterte of bribing Department of Education officials while serving as DepEd Secretary from 2022 to 2024—on Friday.

Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores later explained that the decision was aimed at adhering to their trial timeline.

While the bribery charge is off the table in the Senate, prosecutors hinted Saturday that they may still refer the matter to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman for criminal prosecution.

On Tuesday, the Senate impeachment court approved the prosecution’s motion to drop three of the four articles of impeachment.

As a result, the trial will now center exclusively on Article II, which alleges unexplained wealth and a failure to properly declare assets and divest from business interests.

-Paraluman News