Manila: The impeachment court will retain a prosecution-first format, allowing House of Representatives prosecutors to complete their evidence on all remaining articles against Vice President Sara Duterte before the defense begins presenting its case.
According to Philippines News Agency, Presiding Officer Francis Escudero announced the ruling Wednesday after the prosecution and defense failed to agree on a proposal to hear evidence from both sides separately for each article of impeachment. 'Therefore, we shall proceed as originally ruled by the chair,' Escudero said.
Under the procedure, prosecutors will first present their evidence-in-chief for all articles they do not withdraw. The defense will then present its evidence on the articles pursued by the prosecution. Escudero said the court explored the article-by-article format proposed by Senator-Judge Bam Aquino and discussed it with the lead counsels of both camps, subject to their mutual consent.
He said written submissions from the prosecution and defense showed there was no agreement to change the procedure. The court instead retained the format followed during the impeachment trial of former chief justice Renato Corona, when prosecutors completed their presentation on all articles they pursued before the defense took the floor.
Meanwhile, the court ordered the issuance of subpoenas requiring three prosecution witnesses to testify and produce documents during the next trial dates. Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro of Batangas identified them as former Commission on Audit (COA) state auditor Roderick Wamil, incumbent COA state auditor Xylene Mae Del Campo, and House Legislative Information Resources Management Department Director Marivic Pareja.
Wamil is scheduled to testify on Aug. 3, followed by Del Campo on Aug. 4 and Pareja on Aug. 5. 'The clerk of court is directed to issue the corresponding subpoenas,' Escudero said. The trial was adjourned until Aug. 3 at 10 a.m., with the court expected to discuss possible adjustments to its daily schedule during a senators' caucus.
