The Senate impeachment court on Tuesday approved the motion of the House prosecution team to drop three of the four impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senator Francis Escudero, the presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court, said: " The court accepts and confirms the prosecution's manifestation.''

These are Articles I (alleged misuse of confidential funds), III (bribery) and IV ( grave threats).

Escudero's decision came as the Senate impeachment court adjourned its session after 39 hearings. It will resume on November 9.

This would leave the Article II, which covers unexplained wealth, will be the lone topic to be discussed by the impeachment court when it resumes on Nov. 9.

The prosecution has presented its last witness Monday, a financial expert who alleged that Duterte amassed money.

Defense counsel Sheila Sison said the prosecution had wasted resources of the impeachment court.

House lead prosecutor Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro told the Senate impeachment court saying the evidence on unexplained wealth alone was enough to warrant her removal from office.

“Today, the prosecution respectfully manifests that it will no longer pursue three of them. It will stand on one, and that is Article II on unexplained wealth,” Luistro said.

“The prosecution believes it has presented sufficient evidence for Article II to stand on its own. All in po tayo dito,” she added.

“We believe that evidence is substantial and compelling, and warrants the respondent’s removal from office for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust,” she said.

Article II covers allegations of unexplained wealth, violations involving Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and prohibited business interests.

To support these allegations, the prosecution presented witnesses from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Securities and Exchange Commission, Land Registration Authority, Office of the Ombudsman, banks and insurance companies, as well as a forensic accounting expert.

The witnesses presented financial records, tax documents, property records and other evidence involving Duterte, her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, and companies linked to them.

Forensic accounting expert Alexander Cabrera testified that his conservative analysis of financial records showed about P818 million in allegedly unexplained wealth from 2022 to 2025.

During subsequent questioning, Cabrera said the amount could reach approximately P1.5 billion under a broader assessment that included additional financial discrepancies and assets excluded from his original computation.

He clarified that the P1.5-billion figure was a possible higher estimate, not a revised final finding, and remained subject to deductions for applicable liabilities and taxes.

Luistro said focusing on Article II would shorten the proceedings and reduce the evidence and arguments the impeachment court would have to consider.

She disclosed that about 32 previously listed witnesses would no longer be called to testify. House Public Communications Bureau-PHS