Metro Manila, Philippines – The Senate, sitting as the Impeachment Court, has set the pre-trial conference on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte for June 18, amid unresolved internal disputes in the chamber.
Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian, the designated presiding officer, issued the notice to Duterte and the House prosecution panel on Tuesday, June 9.
Terry Ridon, Bicol Saro representative and prosecutor, shared a copy of the notice received by the House panel.
In Gatchalian’s notice, the parties were directed to attend the pre-trial conference personally or through their counsel. The pre-trial conference will address the following:
- stipulation of facts and simplification of issues
- marking of documentary or real evidence and waiver of objections or admissions on evidence
- number and identification of witnesses
- setting of trial dates
- proposed sequence for the presentation of evidence and possible modification of the order of trial
- such other matters as will promote a fair and expeditious trial of the case.
The proceedings will not be open to the public and the media to “allow the parties and/or their counsel the widest freedom and latitude towards attaining the objectives of the pre-trial.”
Both parties have also been ordered to file with the clerk of Impeachment Court and serve upon the adverse party their respective pre-trial briefs until June 15. The pre-trial brief must contain the following:
- summary of admitted facts, proposed stipulations, and issues for resolution
- list of documents or exhibits presently known and reasonably available to the party, stating their purpose
- list of witnesses, presently known and reasonably available to the party, including the purpose of their intended testimonies
- reservation of evidence not reasonably known or available during the pre-trial conference, provided that the identity of the witness or description of the documentary object evidence and the purpose of presentation shall be provided to the other party and the Impeachment Court at least three days prior to their presentation.
“Failure of any party to submit the pre-trial brief on time, or to appear at the pre-trial conference without a valid, legally justifiable reason, may result in the waiver of their right to introduce specific evidence or witnesses, or may prompt the Impeachment Court to proceed with the formulation of the pre-trial order based solely on the records available,” the notice read.
House lead prosecutor Jinky Luistro earlier said the panel is ready to cooperate with the Impeachment Court under Gatchalian’s directive amid the persistent contention of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on the leadership.
On Monday, June 8, the House prosecution panel waived their reply to Duterte’s answer on the Articles of Impeachment, saying any further paper submissions may result in delays.
In May, over 257 House members impeached Duterte for betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, and high crimes.
In particular, the vice president supposedly mismanaged at least ₱612.5 million in confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, has unexplained wealth, bribed procurement officials, and plotted an assasination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
