Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte challenged the case for removing her from office as House prosecutors prepared evidence on the sole remaining impeachment article, an allegation of unexplained wealth.
The House prosecution withdrew three of the four articles, which had concerned confidential funds, bribery and grave threats. Lead prosecutor Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said other government agencies were handling those matters, the House of Representatives said in a Tuesday release.
Duterte said prosecutors had not established an impeachable offense and accused the government of trying to oust her through allegations without proof, Anadolu Agency reported.
She cited claims about Chinese backing for a business project, a drug seizure in Laos and an alleged plot connected to Mindanao and Davao. Duterte also disputed a document said to authorize travel to Laos, saying the Office of the President had not confirmed it and that she believed it was fabricated.
The House said Duterte’s defense can object to the prosecution’s formal offer of evidence before the Senate impeachment court decides what to admit. Prosecutors said they were preparing that filing for an Oct. 23 deadline.
