Up to House prosecutors to decide on dropping bribery raps vs Sara Duterte in impeachment trial

October 4, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Malacañang on Sunday said it will leave it to the House prosecution team to decide on whether it will drop the bribery raps against Vice President Sara Duterte in the ongoing Senate impeachment trial.

However, a Palace executive cautioned that this move might only leave Filipinos without any answers to the bribery allegations.

“Nasa pagpapasya po iyan ng prosecution. Kung sa tingin nila ay iyan ang tamang strategy sa paghain ng mga testigo. Ngunit isinama nila yan sa Articles of Impeachment na ang ibig sabihin nito ay may mga sapat silang ebidensya para talakayin itong isyung bribery sa impeachment court,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said.

She went on: “Kung aatras sila sa akusasyong bribery laban sa Bise Presidente ay hindi ba nila na short change o nadedehado ang mga Filipino na nais sanang malaman ang buong katotohanan rito? Muli, nasa kanila po ang pagpapasya rito.”

She made the remarks after House prosecution spokesperson and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the House prosecution team might drop the charge of bribery in the impeachment trial against Duterte.

At present, the Senate impeachment court is tackling Article 2 of the Articles of Impeachment on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth.

Article 3 involves allegations that Duterte bribed officials of the Department of Education during her term as Education Secretary from 2022 to 2024.

Up to House prosecutors to decide on dropping bribery raps vs Sara Duterte in impeachment trial

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