Prosecution, defense teams in VP Duterte impeachment trial allowed to present 'surprise witnesses'

The Senate impeachment court will permit both the House prosecution panel and the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte to present witnesses not previously identified during pre-trial, provided that proper notice is given, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said Monday.

Bantug, who also serves as clerk of the impeachment court, explained that parties may reserve the right to present additional witnesses, but must inform the opposing side at least three days before they are called to testify.

“Both parties have the right to make reservations as to witnesses that may not be available yet during the pre-trial, and they will inform the parties of calling such witnesses at least three days before the presentation. That is allowed,” Bantug told reporters.

He said the pre-trial conference resumed on June 22 after its initial session on June 18, and that the court is aiming to finish the marking of documentary evidence for Articles I and II within the day.

Bantug added that the pre-trial order could be issued by June 25, consistent with the impeachment timeline, which sets the release window between June 18 and June 25.

“Hopefully, we can have it out even before that, but it’s a tight schedule considering we are only about two weeks away from the trial,” he said.

The pre-trial phase serves as the preliminary meeting between the prosecution and defense teams before the senator-judges convene as an impeachment court on July 6.

The House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte in May on charges including culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.

Her legal team filed its response to the Articles of Impeachment on June 1, asking the court to dismiss the case.

-Paraluman News