Sara Duterte impeachment pre-trial convenes Thursday morning

MANILA, Philippines – The pre-trial conference on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte will begin on Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Senate.

During the pre-trial conference, both the House prosecution panel and Duterte’s defense counsel will resolve the following matters to ensure a smooth impeachment trial:

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

READ: VP Sara Duterte: Corruption threatens sovereignty, freedom

Article continues after this advertisement

According to Senate Secretary Renato “Rey” Bantug, who will also serve as the clerk of the impeachment court, though the conference is scheduled until June 25, the timeline depends on the length of the pre-trial briefs.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

On Monday, the prosecution, through House Secretary-General Cheloy Garafil, filed its 57-page pre-trial brief.

Within the same hour, Duterte’s camp, led by Atty. Michael Poa, also submitted its 70-page brief.

According to the House prosecution panel, it plans to present over 30 witnesses during Duterte’s trial, while Poa declined to disclose the specific number of their witnesses, saying instead that they would call on “several.”

It must be noted that the pre-trial conference will be a closed-door event, but youth-led citizen group Bantay Senado said the conference should be open to the media and the public to ensure transparency.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Solons say Duterte camp still failed to address impeachment issues

Duterte’s impeachment trial is scheduled on July 6, where she risks being convicted for following grounds:

Culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust through the systematic liquidation, misuse, misappropriation, and irregular use of confidential funds amounting to P500 million under the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and P112.5 million under the Department of Education (DepEd)

Culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust when Duterte amassed unexplained wealth manifestly disproportionate to her lawful income and earnings during her incumbency as a public official

Bribery, graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust when she gave monetary gifts or payments to DepEd officials to induce the violation and circumvention of procurement and other related laws

Culpable violation of the Constitution, high crimes, and betrayal of public trust by contracting for the assassination of the President, the First Lady, and the former speaker of the House, by making grave threats, and by actively inciting sedition against the republic /mr

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.