Malacañang expressed strong reservations regarding the prosecution panel’s decision to drop the bribery charge against Vice President Sara Duterte in her ongoing impeachment trial, warning that abandoning the allegation could prevent the public from learning the full truth.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro acknowledged the prosecution team’s authority over its legal trial strategy but questioned the sudden shift in approach.
“If they withdraw the bribery allegation against the vice president, wouldn’t that shortchange or disadvantage Filipinos who want to know the whole truth about this?” Castro said in an official statement.
She also said, “It is up to the prosecution to decide. If they think that is the right strategy in presenting their witnesses.”
Castro emphasized that including the specific charge in the initial Articles of Impeachment signaled that the panel possessed adequate grounds to litigate the matter before the trial court.
“But they included it in the Articles of Impeachment, which means they have sufficient evidence to discuss this bribery issue in the impeachment court,” she also said.
The Palace statement follows confirmation from House prosecution team member and Manila Representative Joel Chua that prosecutors intend to withdraw the article of impeachment related to bribery.
Chua clarified that the decision stems from tactical schedule management rather than insufficient proof, asserting that existing evidence submitted for other primary counts remains comprehensive enough to sustain the overall case.