Sara Duterte impeachment trial advances following Supreme Court ruling

The impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte continues to escalate following a Supreme Court decision to dismiss petitions challenging the Senate Impeachment Court’s voting threshold. The high court ruled that the challenges were premature and lacked legal standing, allowing the Senate tribunal to proceed with its own established formula for calculating conviction requirements.

The proceedings are moving into a critical phase involving anticipated testimonies from officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and land registry agencies.

Simultaneously, new allegations have emerged via an eight-page affidavit from former police corporal Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. Gracioso claims he delivered suitcases containing millions of pesos to Duterte on multiple occasions. Duterte has denied the allegations, characterizing the claims as a “media stunt” and “manufactured distractions” intended to bolster a failing impeachment case. The Philippine National Police confirmed that Gracioso was a former officer who had been dismissed from service.