Philippines Drops Two Charges Against Vice President in Impeachment Trial

The court is still deliberating on the final remaining charge, meaning that a conviction could bar her from holding elected office, thereby ending her efforts to run for the presidency in 2028.

Chief Justice Senator Francis Escudero, in approving the motion, stated that “the first, third, and fourth articles will no longer be part of the articles of impeachment… and will not be submitted to the court members for voting or for issuing a verdict of conviction or acquittal.”

The prosecution’s unexpected move came on the 39th day of the trial, after weeks of presenting evidence supporting the charges that were subsequently dropped.

Duterte was accused of making “serious threats” in connection with statements she made, in which she claimed she had hired a hitman to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos, his wife, and his cousin, a former member of parliament, should she herself be killed beforehand.

She later stated that her remarks had been misunderstood.