Manila: The House prosecution panel involved in Vice President Sara Z. Duterte's impeachment trial is contemplating bypassing the bribery charge and moving forward with evidence on her alleged unexplained wealth. Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the prosecution panel, highlighted that the team is assessing the strength of the remaining Articles of Impeachment, aiming for a swift conclusion of the trial.

According to Philippines News Agency, Ridon discussed in a House press conference the potential shift in focus. The prosecution is deliberating whether to continue with the bribery charge or directly address the unexplained wealth allegations. Article III accuses Duterte of providing monetary gifts to Department of Education officials to circumvent procurement laws, while Article II deals with alleged unexplained wealth and incomplete asset disclosures.

Ridon, the lead prosecutor for Article II, expressed that the unexplained wealth charges are seen as more compelling compared to the bribery case. He emphasized this perspective does not diminish the importance of the bribery charges but highlights the prosecutorial strategy to focus on stronger allegations.

The decision on whether to proceed with or skip the bribery charge is anticipated once the panel concludes its presentation on Article I, which pertains to the alleged misuse and misappropriation of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds at the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education. Ridon expects a decision within the next two weeks.

Ridon also conveyed confidence in the strength of the first two articles, noting that the prosecution has presented substantial evidence through testimonies from government auditors, bank officials, military officers, and current or former officials from both the OVP and DepEd. He believes the evidence is robust enough to support the charges.