Philippines drops 3 impeachment charges against Sara Duterte despite evidence

On Tuesday in Manila, the Philippine Senate, acting as an impeachment court, approved a prosecution request to drop most of the impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte. The unexpected decision by prosecutors occurred despite weeks of presenting evidence in support of the now-dismissed accusations.

Duterte had been on trial before the Senate for months facing a total of four charges, conviction on any of which would have carried a permanent ban from holding elected office. The dropping of the majority of these charges comes during legal proceedings that carry significant political weight, as the trial's outcome could impact her potential candidacy in the 2028 presidential election.