In a strategic move to expedite the ongoing impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, House prosecutors have officially dropped the fourth and final charge of bribery. Representatives leading the case stated that they have already gathered compelling evidence for the remaining three articles of impeachment, arguing that continuing with the bribery claims would only create unnecessary delays. By streamlining the proceedings, the prosecution aims to conclude the trial before the end of the year, sparing the senator-judges and the public from a protracted legal battle.

The trial is currently focusing on allegations of unexplained wealth, with forensic financial analysis suggesting that Duterte and her husband may have accumulated over P817 million in undisclosed assets between 2022 and 2025. This development comes at a precarious time for the Vice President, as her political support in the Senate continues to crumble. With key allies switching sides to the majority bloc and others facing their own legal troubles, Duterte’s defense team is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a viable path toward acquittal, prompting some remaining supporters to seek higher court intervention to change the trial’s voting requirements.