The House prosecution team is fully committed to securing a conviction on the remaining unexplained wealth charge against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
This is according to House lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, who reiterated that a single impeachment article could be sufficient to hold the Vice President accountable.
“In fact, isa lang ang article kung saan mako-convict ang respondent vice president. That would be enough for us to anticipate the penalty of removal and perpetual disqualification,” Luistro said.
Luistro made the statement after the House prosecution team withdrew three impeachment articles involving confidential funds, grave threats, and bribery, leaving only Article II.
She said the prosecution does not need convictions on multiple articles if the Senate finds the evidence on the remaining charge sufficient.
The decision to concentrate on unexplained wealth was also intended to shorten the proceedings and avoid unnecessarily prolonging the trial.
Article II involves allegations that Duterte failed to fully disclose her wealth, income, financial transactions, and business interests in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
During the proceedings, the prosecution presented testimony from bank and insurance representatives, government officials, and forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera.
Cabrera identified nearly P818 million in alleged unexplained wealth involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, from 2022 to 2025.
His findings drew on bank records, income tax returns, insurance policies, corporate investments, and asset declarations.
The House prosecution has argued that discrepancies among those records raise serious questions regarding the completeness and accuracy of Duterte’s financial disclosures.
Among the issues raised were bank balances allegedly inconsistent with her SALNs, income discrepancies, and business interests that prosecutors said were not fully disclosed.
Luistro maintained that the evidence already presented provided a substantial basis for the remaining charge.
Under the Constitution, an impeachment conviction requires the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all members of the Senate.
Article XI, Section 3(7) also identifies removal from office and disqualification from holding public office as the limits of an impeachment judgment.
Luistro argued that conviction on Article II could warrant both penalties, although the final judgment rests entirely with the Senate impeachment court.
Duterte’s defense team is expected to begin presenting its evidence on Nov. 9.
Luistro said the prosecution remains confident but is interested in seeing how Duterte’s lawyers will challenge the financial findings.