MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives' panel of prosecutors for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte was confident it can prove the allegations against her.
Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, the House's lead public prosecutor, said in a press conference on Tuesday that "we cannot discuss anymore on the merits because we have entered our appearance already as public prosecutors yesterday and we are bound by the prohibition which is included in the Senate rules on impeachment. Nonetheless, we are expressing, we are reiterating our confidence in establishing and proving these four articles of impeachment."
Article I alleged that Duterte committed culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayed public trust "through the systematic misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of confidential funds amounting to" P500 million "released to the Office of the Vice President and" P112.5 million "released to the Department of Education."
Duterte served as Education secretary before she resigned from that post in 2024.
Article II alleged that she committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayed public trust when" she: allegedly amassed "unexplained wealth manifestly disproportionate to her lawful income and earnings during her incumbency as a public official;" allegedly failed "to fully and truthfully disclose all her and her spouse's assets, liabilities, and net worth in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth ('SALN'), including in her SALN for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024;" and allegedly failed "to divest, and instead, willfully continued, all her business interests during her tenure as" vice president "for the years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025."
Article III alleged that she "committed bribery, graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayed public trust when she gave monetary gifts or payments to" certain people "to induce the violation and circumvention of procurement and other related laws."
The last article, Article IV, alleged that Duterte "committed culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayed public trust by contracting for the assassination of" President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Leyte 1st District Rep. and former speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez "by making grave threats, and by actively inciting sedition against the" republic.
Duterte has denied making an assassination threat.
In her answer to the complaints, she said that the complaints failed to show "any shred of proof" that a contract to kill ever existed. "Instead, complainants rely on exaggerated conclusions dressed up as fact", it read.
"Absent any statement of ultimate facts in any of these Impeachment Complaints, there is nothing for respondent to answer. Respondent thus only admits averments therein insofar as they allege her election, assumption to the Office of the Vice President, appointment as Secretary of Education, and her prior offices as Mayor and Vice Mayor of Davao City", Duterte's answer to the complaints read.
"The rest of the allegations, including the annexes and so-called evidence attached to the Impeachment Complaints, are specifically denied for being false, misleading, impertinent, and mere conclusions of fact and law", it read.
