Prosecution denies securing enough votes to convict VP Duterte
Lead house prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro presents during the 39th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News QUEZON CITY — The House prosecution panel on Sunday denied rumors that they have secured enough votes to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in the ongoing impeachment trial.
Speculations came out that they have secured enough votes that led to dropping of three other articles of impeachment.
“We would like to deny that assertion because first of all, hindi naman kami privy sa magiging verdict. Always remember, the exclusive power to try and decide, that belongs to the Senate and not to us,” lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro said in a briefing in Quezon City.
Luistro maintained that the decision to drop the three articles come from their confidence in the strength of their evidence in the unexplained wealth article.
“All in kami dito sa Article 2, sa unexplained wealth. If we fail on this, if we do not get a conviction on this, that is the end of it. Unlike prior to the withdrawal na meron kami na apat na artikulo, ibig sabihin may apat na chances kami to get a conviction,” she said.
She explained that among the considerations in dropping three articles come from various factors such as impeachment fatigue of the Filipino people, and the schedule of the Senate as a legislative body.
“It is too lamenting to see na nawawalan na ng interes ang ating kababayan because of the long processes they have been witnessing surrounding these allegations,” Luistro said.
The lead prosecutor also said they find it strange that the defense panel will object to the withdrawal of the three articles of impeachment.
“In ordinary cases, kapag nagwithdraw ang prosecution ng sakdal sa akusado, the normal reaction masaya dapat akusado dahil nabawasan asulto, nabawasan ang sakdal, nabawasan ang habla, kakaunti na ang kailangan depensahan,” she said.
The defense panel earlier said that dropping the articles deprived them of the chance to answer and counter the allegations within the impeachment court.
Impeachment trial resumes this November 9, where the defense panel is expected to present their evidence only related to Article 2 on the unexplained wealth.