The Senate impeachment court has lifted the sub judice rule related to three withdrawn articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. This ruling allows her to publicly respond to the allegations that have now been dropped.
Court's Rationale Behind the Decision
Upon the effectivity of this Order, the separate merits of Articles 1, 3 and 4 are no longer pending for adjudication. Accordingly, the prosecutors, the Respondent, their respective counsel, and witnesses may publicly address, explain, and respond to any matter contained in those withdrawn Articles.
Senator-Judge Francis Escudero
Senator-Judge Francis Escudero, the court's presiding officer, stated that the lifting of Rule 18 was meant to ensure that the Vice President could clarify her stance on the withdrawn articles, which include allegations of misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and involvement in an assassination plot.
Escudero emphasized that while the court has allowed public discussion on the withdrawn articles, the rules around confidentiality for evidence presented in relation to these articles remain intact. The rules still apply to Article 2, which deals with the alleged accumulation of unexplained wealth.
As a historical context, lifting the sub judice rule is relatively rare in impeachment proceedings, typically maintained to protect the integrity of ongoing judicial processes. This ruling marks a significant moment in the impeachment trial, potentially reshaping public discourse surrounding the Vice President.