Former diplomat and law professor Atty. Jojo Lacanilao clarified that the House prosecution panel exercises full legal discretion to withdraw specific articles of impeachment during trial proceedings.
While acknowledging defense frustration over losing a forum to formally rebut those specific claims, Lacanilao noted that prosecutors retain the prerogative to simplify their case.
He recalled that defense counsel had previously rejected Senate proposals to try and present evidence on each article sequentially, concluding that the withdrawal presents no statutory or procedural violation.
