House Prosecutors rush evidence vs VP Sara

MANILA — House prosecutors are eyeing an early submission of evidence against Vice President Sara Duterte to speed up her Senate impeachment trial, with the deadline set on Oct. 23.

Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said Saturday that the prosecution was preparing its formal offer of evidence after resting its case on Oct. 13.

The Senate impeachment court gave prosecutors 10 days to submit documentary and object evidence supporting Article II, which accuses Duterte of having unexplained wealth.

“Kung maibibigay po natin nang mas maaga, the better,” Chua said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

The formal offer identifies the evidence prosecutors want the court to admit. Duterte’s defense will have 10 days from receipt to submit its comments and objections.

The prosecution’s final witness, forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera, testified that his review of financial records showed about ₱817.87 million in allegedly unexplained wealth involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, from 2022 to 2025.

Cabrera said the figure could reach ₱1.5 billion under less conservative assumptions. His findings were based on bank records, tax returns, insurance documents, corporate filings and Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
Duterte has denied wrongdoing, while her defense disputes the allegations.

On Oct. 13, the impeachment court accepted the prosecution’s withdrawal of three articles involving alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery and grave threats, leaving unexplained wealth as the sole remaining charge.

Chua said the proceedings should move faster now that prosecutors are pursuing only one article.

The trial is scheduled to resume on Nov. 9, when Duterte’s defense is expected to begin presenting evidence, subject to the court’s resolution of the prosecution’s formal offer.