Sara Duterte impeachment pre-trial set on June 18

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate, under the leadership of Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian, will hold the pre-trial conference for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on June 18.

In a notice signed on Tuesday, June 9, the impeachment court directed Duterte and the House prosecution panel to appear at 9 am in the Senate’s Recto Room in Pasay City for the pre-trial proceedings.

The conference seeks to tackle the stipulation of facts, simplification of issues, marking of evidence, identification of witnesses, setting of trial dates, the proposed sequence for the presentation of evidence, and other matters to ensure a “fair and expeditious trial.”

“To allow the parties and/or their counsel the widest freedom and latitude towards attaining the objectives of pre-trial, the pre-trial conference proceedings shall not be open to the media or public,” read the notice, a copy of which was obtained by Rappler from House prosecutor Terry Ridon.

Both camps have been given until June 15 to submit their pre-trial briefs, which will contain a summary of admitted facts and proposed stipulations, a list of documentary and object evidence, and a list of witnesses together with the purpose of their testimonies.

“For justifiable cause, including for reasons of safety and security, the parties may reserve disclosure of the names and details of their witnesses falling under said justifications until their presentation before the impeachment court. Reserved witnesses shall be included in the number of witnesses disclosed and the trial dates given to the parties,” the document read.

The court added that should either camp fail to submit a pre-trial brief on time or appear at the pre-trial conference without a valid reason, their right to introduce specific evidence or witnesses may be waived.

The pre-trial comes on the heels of an ongoing leadership dispute in the Senate between Gatchalian, who signed the notice as presiding officer, and Alan Peter Cayetano, his predecessor, who was ousted by a 12-person majority on June 3. The Cayetano bloc is still contesting the result of that coup. – Rappler.com