The House prosecution team has yet to reach a final decision on whether to skip the bribery charge against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and move directly to the article on unexplained wealth following the completion of its presentation on confidential funds, House impeachment team adviser and spokesperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers clarified.
“Wala pang final doon sa sinasabing didiretso na kami diyan [sa unexplained wealth article],” Barbers said during an online press briefing, addressing recent reports regarding a potential shift in trial strategy.
Barbers emphasized that under the existing trial order, the prosecution is designated to proceed sequentially. The trial schedule dictates moving next to Article III, which addresses alleged bribery during Duterte’s tenure as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), before taking up the charge of unexplained wealth.
“Ang nakasaad doon sa ating trial order, ang susunod na article after the confidential funds ay itong bribery. At pagkatapos ng bribery, ang pinaka-last ang unexplained wealth,” Barbers explained. “Hindi pa alam kung saan nanggagaling pa sa ngayon, dahil wala pa namang final decision, although pinag-uusapan.”
The clarification comes shortly after House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon noted that the prosecution team was actively discussing whether to tackle the bribery charge or transition directly to Article II. Ridon, who leads the presentation for Article II, described the unexplained wealth charge as potentially “more compelling,” though he maintained that discussions remained ongoing and no firm consensus had been finalized.
At present, the prosecution is entering the final phases of its presentation on Article I, which focuses on the alleged misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds under Duterte’s administration, comprising ₱500 million allocated to the Office of the Vice President and ₱112.5 million to DepEd.
Lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro previously indicated that the team aims to conclude its presentation on Article I by September 9, subject to potential stipulations agreed upon with the defense and the remaining witness testimonies.
The remaining articles of impeachment focus on distinct areas of alleged misconduct. Article III accuses Vice President Duterte of bribery involving the alleged distribution of cash-filled envelopes to DepEd officials during her tenure as education chief. Meanwhile, Article II focuses on alleged unexplained wealth and notable discrepancies within Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
Developments regarding Article II have accelerated after the Senate impeachment court provided both the prosecution and defense with certified bank and tax records pertaining to Duterte, her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, and their associated corporate entities.
The court released the documents after determining they held prima facie relevance to the unexplained wealth charge. Barbers confirmed that a dedicated legal team within the prosecution is currently examining the financial and tax records, but declined to comment on specific details while the evaluation remains active.