PH Senate begins pre-trial conference for VP Sara Duterte impeachment case

The Philippine Senate impeachment court formally started the pre-trial conference for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday.

Senate Secretary and Clerk of Court Renato Bantug Jr., along with Deputy Clerks of Court Atty. Marivic Laurel-Garcia and Atty. Maria Valentina Cruz, presided over the preliminary meeting.

The House of Representatives prosecution panel, led by Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, attended the conference.

Also present during the pre-trial conference were Reps. Terry Ridon, Ramon Gutierrez, Ysabel Zamora, Lorenz Defensor, Chel Diokno, Leila De Lima, Keith Flores, Lordan Suan, and Joel Chua; along with private prosecutors Lorna Kapunan, Marforth T. Fua, Erwin Matib, James Bryan Ibrahim Alih, and Amando Ligutan.

The defense team headed by Atty. Michael Poa, representing Duterte, also sat down with the panel during the meeting.

Also present from the defense team were Sheila Sison, Christine Ferrer, Carlo Narvasa, Mark C. Vinluan, Ralph B. Bodota, Roberto Batumbakal, Justin Nicol B. Gular, David Ronell M. Golla VII, Lindon Miguel L. Miguel, Karol Oroceo, Francesca Flores, and Clarlaine Radoc.

The pre-trial serves as the initial gathering of both panels before the senator-judges formally convene the impeachment court.

-Paraluman News