Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Rowegie Abanto

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 960px; display: block;" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178876712768820260905-vp-sara-duterte-bail-qc-rtc-MT-2.jpg" style="width: 960px; display: block; height: auto;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to her legal counsel, as she refuses to enter the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, citing safety concerns, before posting bail for her grave threats case on Sept. 5, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATE</strong>) &mdash; The prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday told the Senate court that it would still present evidence related to its bribery accusation against her.</p><p>The opposing panel&#39;s decision came after a House prosecutor, Rep. Joel Chua of Manila, said that members of the prosecution <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/2/prosecution-mulls-dropping-bribery-impeachment-article-to-shorten-trial-1356">were considering dropping the presentation of the alleged bribery</a> of Department of Education officials to speed up the proceedings.</p><p>The prosecution has so far finished tackling the grave threats accusation against Duterte and is completing discussions on her alleged misuse of multimillion-peso confidential funds.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/7/psa-official-finds-unusual-names-among-confidential-fund-payees-lacking-records-1238">PSA official finds &#39;unusual names&#39; among confidential fund payees lacking records</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/7/parties-distance-selves-from-idea-that-duterte-confi-fund-payees-used-aliases-1302">Parties distance selves from idea that Duterte confi fund payees used aliases</a></div><p>It has yet to discuss accusations of unexplained wealth and bribery.</p><p>&quot;The decision is to maintain both articles in the presentation of evidence only that unexplained wealth will be advance, and it will be followed and we will end on bribery,&quot; the House lead prosecutor, Rep. Gerville Luistro of Batangas 2nd District, told presiding officer Francis Escudero.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>ORDER NOT BASED ON IMPORTANCE&nbsp;</strong></div><div><br></div><p>The House prosecution panel explained that its decision to present the unexplained wealth article of impeachment ahead of the bribery article was not an indication of which one is more important, but was based solely on the availability of witnesses.</p><p>&quot;These are four equally strong articles of impeachment and as expressed in the pre-trial order may discretion ang prosecution to change the order considering the availability of witnesses and other relevant considerations,&quot; Luistro said.</p><p>&quot;We find it more prudent to advance unexplained wealth and we will finish with bribery,&quot; she added.</p><p>House trial adviser Ace Barbers said the next article of impeachment, which is expected to have longer trial days, will be particularly significant and that the public should watch out for it.</p><p>&quot;Pero what is interesting in the next article is napakarami pong evidence, documentary evidence that the prosecution will present to prove the allegations na meron talagang tagong yaman or unexplained wealth,&quot; he added.</p><p>Luistro, however, advised the public not to get ahead of the proceedings and to continue monitoring the testimonies of the remaining three witnesses for confidential funds.&nbsp;</p><p>&quot;Huwag muna siguro tayong ma-excite for unexplained wealth because apparently we still have three witnesses for confidential funds,&quot; she said.&nbsp;</p><p>The three remaining witnesses include Police Maj. Jovelyn Magay, Commission on Audit (COA) employee Basilio Sabaldan, and former DepEd assistant secretary Atty. Sunshine Fajarda, the wife of Edward Fajarda, who was unable to testify due to medical reasons.</p><p>Citing the sub judice rule, the prosecutors said they cannot yet disclose the substance of the witnesses&rsquo; testimonies. Barbers, however, said their testimonies would help complete the picture of the alleged misuse and misappropriation of confidential funds.</p><p>&quot;Binubuo natin yung litrato ng article na ito&hellip; Hindi ito haka-haka&hellip; This is all about accountability, respect for due process at syempre yung constitutional processes,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/3/prosecution-gets-copy-of-sara-duterte-s-bank-tax-records-1836">Prosecution gets copy of Sara Duterte&#39;s bank, tax records</a></div><p>Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison noted the changes in the prosecution&#39;s order of presentation, saying it was the prerogative of the opposing panel.</p><p>The prosecution is aiming to complete the presentation of all articles by October.</p><p>Duterte has rejected all allegations against her in the impeachment trial and has said they were all politically motivated.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/51F2J6ZDXEc?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FXHA9TK-7xk?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7VN6F8frBg0?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br></div>

<p>The prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte on Monday told the Senate court that it would still present evidence related to its bribery accusation against the vice president.</p>

The prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte on Monday told the Senate court that it would still present evidence related to its bribery accusation against the vice president.

Prosecution says to keep bribery charge in Sara Duterte trial

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Prosecution says to keep bribery charge in Sara Duterte trial

Rowegie Abanto,

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 07, 2026 03:49 PM PHT

|

Updated September 07, 2026 04:53 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Impeachment Trial

Senate Trial

Sara Duterte Trial

Senate

Impeachment

Bribery

Gerville Luistro

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