Metro Manila, Philippines – The highly-anticipated impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte may take more than three months to conclude, the prosecution and the defense team said as the pre-trial conference resumed on Monday, June 22.
In an interview, House lead prosecutor Jinky Luistro said her previous estimate of possibly ending the trial in September may no longer hold. The trial will begin on July 6.
“If I will consider the number of witnesses and exhibits of both parties, mukhang hindi kakayanin ng hanggang September lang,” she told reporters.
[Translation: If I consider the number of witnesses and exhibits of both parties, this may not be finished by September.]
Michael Poa, Duterte defense spokesperson, agreed with Luistro’s observation.
“Sa tingin ko [I think] three months is a bit tight. We agree on that point. Both sides naman po talagang [for both sides] we’re trying to speed things up,” he said.
Jay Tolosa, new legal spokesperson for the prosecution panel and a private prosecutor, said the House requested 62 trial dates to present its evidence and witnesses.
He noted that this may be shorter depending on the Impeachment Court, especially if they will be allowed to present two witnesses per day.
On the defense side, Poa said his camp requested at least 30 trial dates. The defense listed 97 witnesses in the pre-trial brief.
Tolosa said the prosecution and defense has 51 common witnesses, with 16 named and 35 unnamed.
Order of presentation
In a press briefing, spokespersons for the House prosecution panel disclosed their preferred sequence for the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment once trial begins.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong, trial spokesperson, said the prosecution intends to present first the article on threats.
It will be followed by the articles on misuse of confidential funds, bribery, and unexplained wealth, respectively.
“I think it’s easier for the public to understand right away ‘yung nakita nilang video na tina-threaten ng bise presidente ang nakaupong presidente, unang ginang, at dating speaker ng House of Representatives,” Adiong said.
[Translation: I think it’s easier for the public to immediately understand the video they saw showing the vice president threatening the sitting president, the first lady, and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives.]
Tolosa said the prosecution intends to present hostile witnesses for the succeeding articles of impeachment, which would require them to ask the court to summon people to appear before the court.
Poa said he sees nothing wrong with the proposed order, as long as the prosecution informs the defense team.
Senate Secretary and Clerk of Court Renato Bantug said the second day of the pre-trial conference was extended for another day due to the volume of evidence to be marked.
The pre-trial order, which will serve as the roadmap for the trial proper, is expected to be released on June 25.
