Senate impeachment court permits withdrawal of three charges in Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial
On the 39th day of the impeachment proceeding, the Senate impeachment court approved the prosecution’s request to drop three of the four articles filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, removing the accusations of confidential‑fund misuse, bribery and grave threats. The remaining article focuses on alleged unexplained wealth and nondisclosure of assets. Prosecutors said the case proceeds with testimony from the Anti‑Money Laundering Council, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and financial experts, while the defense argued that the change limits Duterte’s ability to present a full case. Vice President Duterte described the removal of the bribery count as evidence of insufficient proof, calling the impeachment effort a smear campaign.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning outlets covered this 10h later
Why it matters
The decision shapes whether the vice president could be removed over financial misconduct and influences public confidence in the impeachment process.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage criticizes the withdrawals as wasteful and harmful to the trial’s credibility, while centrist coverage reports the decision as a procedural step and stresses the administration’s deference to prosecutors.
LEFT
Frames the withdrawals as wasteful and damaging to the impeachment’s credibility
CENTER
Presents the withdrawals as a procedural decision, highlighting the administration’s deference to prosecutors and the remaining asset-disclosure charge
The left emphasises
- condemn removal of three impeachment charges as wasteful
- squandered millions of pesos
- undermines the proceedings’ credibility
How this story developed
- Oct 10 House prosecutors consider sending VP Sara Duterte bribery case to DOJ and Ombudsman
- Oct 14 The Senate impeachment court approved the withdrawal of three of the four articles, leaving only the unexplained‑wealth charge.
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