Vice Pres. Sara Duterte held a press conference at OVP Central Office, Mandaluyong City on Feb. 18, 2026. In the same briefing, she announced her presidential bid for 2028. Screen grabbed from Inday Sara Duterte livestream.
Scrapping one of the four articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte would not shield her from possible removal from office, with House prosecutors stressing that a conviction on a single remaining article would be sufficient.
Prosecution counsel Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said each impeachment article is considered separately, meaning Duterte does not have to be found liable on all four for the Senate impeachment court to convict her. The prosecution has not yet decided whether to withdraw Article III, which covers allegations of bribery involving Department of Education officials.
The possible withdrawal is being considered as prosecutors look for ways to shorten the proceedings. House prosecution spokesperson Joel Chua earlier said the panel was studying whether to move from the confidential fund case directly to Article II, which deals with allegations of unexplained wealth.
Article I centers on the alleged misuse, misappropriation and irregular liquidation of Php 612.5 million in confidential funds, consisting of Php 500 million released to the Office of the Vice President and Php 112.5 million allocated to DepEd while Duterte was education secretary.
Article II involves allegations of unexplained wealth, incomplete financial disclosures and continued business interests. Prosecutors said they have obtained records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Anti-Money Laundering Council that they intend to use when presenting that portion of the case.
Article IV covers allegations arising from Duterte’s remarks involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Prosecutors have finished presenting their case on that article and are completing their evidence on the confidential fund allegations.
A conviction would still require the constitutionally prescribed vote of the Senate impeachment court. Recent reporting on the proceedings notes that two-thirds of all senators must concur to convict, traditionally equivalent to 16 votes in a 24-member Senate.
There is also precedent for prosecutors abandoning some charges without ending an impeachment case. In the 2012 trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, five of the eight articles transmitted to the Senate were eventually withdrawn. Corona was ultimately convicted on one article involving his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.