Adiong urges Senate to proceed with Sara Duterte’s impeachment case

MANILA, Philippines — Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Sunday urged the Senate to move swiftly with Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case, as House prosecutors ready a pre-trial brief and line up the entry of private lawyers ahead of next week’s pre-trial conference.

In a statement, Adiong said the House prosecution team is ready to press its case against Duterte and that the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, should duly hear it.

“If there is a case, hear it. If there is none, dismiss it,” Adiong, a spokesman for the House prosecution panel, said in Filipino. “But the process must be completed.”

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READ: Senate invites parties, sets June 18 impeachment pre-trial conference

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“Hear the case. Establish the truth. There should be no delay,” he added.

Adiong’s statement comes as the impeachment process edges closer to a full Senate trial on allegations against Duterte, including corruption and constitutional violations tied to misuse of public funds.

The charges against her also cite that she amassed unexplained wealth, threatening President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., his wife and a former House speaker and bribing officials to skirt procurement rules.

In the pre-trial conference set for June 18, the House prosecution team and Duterte’s defense counsel are expected to resolve the following:

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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;

The proposed sequence for the presentation of evidence and possible modification of the order of trial; and

Such other matters as will promote a fair and expeditious trial of the case.

“We are ready to do our part. We trust that the impeachment court will do its part as well,” Adiong said. “Let the proceedings move forward. Let the evidence be heard. Let the truth come out.” /das

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