HOUSE lead prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro on Tuesday said evidence presented in the three withdrawn impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte would be turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman for possible criminal cases.
The impeachment court approved the withdrawal of the three articles on Oct. 13.
Luistro said the prosecution team would continue pursuing the remaining unexplained wealth charge before the Senate impeachment court while other government agencies handle allegations involving confidential funds, bribery, and grave threats.
“To address the public’s concerns, nothing is going to waste. Article II, which concerns unexplained wealth, remains part of the proceedings in the impeachment court; furthermore, efforts to hold [the respondent] accountable—regarding grave threats, confidential funds, and bribery — are continuing through various other government agencies,” Luistro said in English and Filipino in a press briefing.
“We appeal to the public not to feel that these efforts have been in vain, as other government agencies are actively pursuing criminal action in relation to these articles of impeachment,” she added.
The lawmaker said the panel would comply with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s earlier directive for evidence presented during the impeachment trial, particularly records involving alleged misuse of confidential funds and bribery, to be turned over to the OMB for evaluation.
The Ombudsman could conduct a preliminary investigation and pursue criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan if it found sufficient basis, she said.
Separately, the Department of Justice is prosecuting the grave-threat complaint before a Quezon City regional trial court, where Duterte has already appeared, Luistro said.
At the same time, Luistro said the prosecution panel was monitoring the National Bureau of Investigation’s probe into reported mansions in Davao City, a resort on Samal Island, and properties in Davao and Parañaque City that were reportedly underdeclared.
“We just want to express our interest in the ongoing investigation of the NBI on the discovered properties of the respondent vice president,” Luistro said.
She said the properties could be relevant to the unexplained-wealth article of impeachment, but the prosecution had already concluded presenting its evidence on that charge. She expressed hope that other agencies could continue examining the NBI’s findings.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua questioned the reported valuation of one property, which he said was declared at P800,000 but reportedly appeared in the NBI’s findings as a large mansion with two swimming pools and a helipad.
“A property where you put a helipad means you have a helicopter,” Chua said. “So the next question is: Does this family own a helicopter? Why does their property and mansion have a helipad?”
Offer of evidence
The prosecution panel is preparing to submit its formal offer of evidence on the remaining unexplained wealth charge by Friday, Oct. 23.
It is also gearing up for its cross-examination of defense witnesses when the impeachment trial resumes on Nov. 9.
Prosecutors previously presented bank records, tax documents, corporate filings and forensic findings identifying about P817.87 million in alleged unexplained wealth involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, from 2022 to 2025.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, expressed hope that the impeachment trial will conclude before the end of the year, warning that prolonged proceedings could fuel political uncertainty and stall business investments in the country.
Speaking to reporters during an ambush interview on Oct. 19, Gatchalian highlighted the economic stakes tied to the trial's timeline.
“We hope [it finishes] within this year to eliminate the uncertainty, because this impeachment creates political uncertainty,” Gatchalian said in Filipino. “It affects business owners — when there is an impeachment like this, they hold off on investing. We want their investments to continue flowing.” The Senate leader noted that the duration of the trial ultimately hinges on the strategy and witness presentation of the defense team.
The Senate impeachment court will go on a scheduled recess after completing its 39th day of trial, with proceedings set to resume on Nov. 9.
The court has plotted an intensive November schedule, setting hearing dates for Nov. 9 to 13, Nov. 19 to 20, and Nov. 23. The December calendar will be finalized later to grant both prosecution and defense teams sufficient time to prepare.
Under the court’s order, trial on Nov. 9 will open at 10 a.m. before temporarily suspending in the afternoon for the Senate’s legislative session, after which proceedings will resume — following the format implemented during the Oct. 8 hearing. Full-day hearings spanning 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. are slated for Nov. 10, 12, 13, 19, and 20.
Signatories in favor of the impeachment of Vice President Duterte on Tuesday said they maintained their trust in the prosecution panel of the House of Representatives after they had dropped three out of the four articles of impeachment against her.
“We, the complainants in the First and Third Impeachment Complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, together with various social movements and anti-corruption advocates, reaffirm our faith in and support for the House prosecution team. We view its decision to drop three of the four impeachment articles as a strategic move to focus on the evidence and bring the proceedings to a timely resolution. This is neither an abandonment of accountability nor an erasure of the allegations. Neither does it foreclose the pursuit of justice through other lawful processes,” a statement by the signatories posted on the page of the women’s group Every Woman said on Tuesday.
“In fact, two of the dropped charges are already being pursued through other legal avenues. Several signatories to this statement have already filed a plunder complaint before the Ombudsman against the vice president over the alleged misuse of her multi-million-peso confidential funds. Meanwhile, the grave threats case is being heard before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Justice does not begin and end with the impeachment proceedings,” they added.
