Escudero issues rapid ruling after prosecutors drop three impeachment articles

In the impeachment proceeding against Vice President Sara Duterte, prosecutors unexpectedly sought to drop three of the four articles on October 13. Within less than an hour, presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero presented a ruling that accepted the request, narrowing the case to a single article on alleged unexplained wealth. According to Senate impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol, Escudero, his staff, and clerk Renato Bantug Jr. had anticipated multiple outcomes and kept skeletal drafts ready for quick adaptation.

The prosecution had previously signaled intent to withdraw the bribery charge on October 6 and later added the misuse of confidential funds and grave threats. Escudero continued refining the decision up to the last moment, incorporating feedback from fellow senator-judges, and insisted that the written copy match the spoken ruling recorded in the journal.