The columnist says that after 39 days of hearings, prosecutors dropped three articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte and kept only the one on unexplained wealth, and the impeachment court accepted the move over the defense's objections. The columnist argues that this, along with lowering the conviction threshold to 14 votes and senators shifting blocs, makes the process look aimed at removing Sara Duterte from the 2028 presidential race. A Pulse Asia survey from September 17 to 24 showed her leading Leni Robredo 50% to 26%, with 54% performance approval and 55% trust. The columnist warns that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s ratings could fall given inflation of 7.2%, the peso at P63.10 to the dollar, public debt of P19.6 trillion and the unresolved P1.089 trillion flood-control plunder.
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