The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte remains scheduled to begin on July 6, as the Senate impeachment court continues pre-trial proceedings and nears the completion of documentary exhibit marking, according to lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro.
Luistro said that following the first pre-trial conference on June 18, the prosecution and defense panels have begun organizing and marking exhibits linked to the Articles of Impeachment. The pre-trial proceedings are set to resume on June 22.
“And then ang maliwanag kahapon, ang start talaga ng trial is July 6 at magtutuloy-tuloy na ‘yan,” Luistro said.
“Kaya we would like to commend the impeachment court, the prosecution team and even the defense team for taking as stance towards an expeditious proceedings towards this pre-trial para makaumpisa na tayo sa July 6 because after all, ito matagal nang hinihintay ang taong bayan,” she added.
Luistro said exhibit marking began during the initial session, with the remaining documentary evidence expected to be completed once hearings resume on Monday. She noted that the process is extensive due to the number of articles involved in the case.
“So just to update, nag-start tayo kahapon ng marking of exhibits and hopefully matapos na this coming Monday ‘no sana matapos ngayong Monday kasi apat na articles of impeachment yan sa atin na isinampa,” she said.
She added that different documentary exhibits correspond to each article, with the more complex and voluminous sets scheduled for completion in the final round of marking.
“Iba ang documentary exhibits per article so ‘yung dalawang mahaba at marami, yan ang aming inihuli sa Monday,” she said.
Luistro said the prosecution expects exhibit marking to be completed before the issuance of the pre-trial order, which will serve as the procedural guide for the trial proper.
“So hopefully matapos ngayong Monday ang marking of exhibits, pag natapos yun ang hihintayin naming is pre-trial order,” she said.
She added that either party may still submit comments if any matter raised during the pre-trial conference is omitted, misstated, or requires clarification.
“At dun naman po sa pre-trial kung meron kaming concern medyo may hindi nabanggit, may napag-usapan sa PTC, medyo inaccurate ang nabanggit doon, may gusto kaming ihabol, we can file a comment to that,” Luistro explained.
The prosecution panel has identified more than 30 potential witnesses, while the defense team has also submitted its own list of witnesses and documentary evidence.
“Madami sila at madami din ‘yung testigo ng defense no but what is important we are moving forward,” she said.
Luistro emphasized that the final step in the pre-trial phase is the completion of exhibit marking and the release of the pre-trial order that will govern the proceedings.
“Lahat ng issues submitted na at ang kulang nalang matapos itong marking of exhibits at maghintay ng paglabas ng pre-trial order,” she said.
She stressed that despite procedural developments, the start of the trial remains fixed.
“Ang pinakaimportante dito para sa kaalaman ng ating kababayan, yun pong start ng trial on July 6, tuloy na tuloy na yan,” Luistro said.