
AI-generated summary
Sarah Duterte is the eldest daughter of former President Duterte. Under the Constitution, Sarah would be removed from office if two-thirds of the senators voted in favor.
China News Service, Manila, October 13 (Reporter Zhou Jing) On the 13th, the Philippine Senate Impeachment Court approved the House of Representatives prosecutors to withdraw three of the four charges in the impeachment case of Vice President Sarah Duterte, and only accused Sarah of failing to truthfully declare assets from unknown sources from 2022 to 2025.
Luis Tero, the chief impeachment prosecutor of the Philippine House of Representatives, said that prosecutors believed that the existing evidence was sufficient to support the remaining charges, so they decided to focus on advancing this charge to shorten the trial process.
The presiding officer of the impeachment court, Senator Escudero, ruled that the defense does not need to submit evidence on the withdrawn charges, but can adduce evidence that has been included in the official record in the trial, is relevant to the remaining charges, and is eligible for admission. He also pointed out that prosecutors are not allowed to re-raise withdrawn charges in this impeachment trial.
Escudero warned that impeachment is a serious constitutional process and prosecutors should not suddenly withdraw charges after submitting evidence. Because related procedures consume judicial resources and public funds, and affect public trust in constitutional institutions.
Sarah's lead defense attorney, Sison, criticized the decision as "unfair," saying the prosecution had already submitted evidence on two of the charges that had been withdrawn, and the defense would have lost the opportunity to rebut the relevant evidence.
Previously, prosecutors cited financial records and relevant witness testimony, saying that Sarah and her husband Carpio were involved in undeclared assets and income of approximately 817 million pesos (approximately 87 million yuan) from 2022 to 2025. Relevant charges are pending judicial proceedings.
Sarah Duterte is the eldest daughter of former Philippine President Duterte. According to the Philippine Constitution, if two-thirds or more of the senators support the impeachment in the Senate impeachment trial, Sarah will be convicted and removed from office and will be barred from holding public office for life.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Senate is set to continue hearing Sarah Duterte on charges that she failed to truthfully declare her assets.
Very likely · Within weeks

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