Manila: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is anticipated to extend beyond September as both the prosecution and defense are gearing up to present a substantial number of witnesses and documentary evidence, House prosecutors revealed on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro, speaking after the recent pretrial conference, indicated that the initially proposed timeline might be insufficient due to the extensive scope of the case. Luistro stated, "If I will consider the number of witnesses and exhibits of both parties, mukhang hindi kakayanin ng hanggang September lang (it appears the trial may not be completed by September alone)."
The final schedule of the trial is contingent upon the discretion of the impeachment court, which will decide the allocation of trial dates for each side. The trial is set to commence on July 6.
The panel's legal spokesperson and private prosecutor, Benjamin Tolosa Jr., mentioned that the prosecution has requested 62 trial dates, while the defense has asked for 30. However, he noted that the proceedings could potentially move faster based on how the court handles witness presentations. Tolosa explained, "It's possible that it could be shorter," suggesting that multiple witnesses might be accommodated in a single hearing day.
Despite procedural disagreements during the pretrial phase, Luistro assured that the prosecution remains committed to ensuring the trial proceeds as scheduled. "Even if there will be attempts, the prosecution will remain firm in making sure that the trial will start on July 6, 2026, as previously scheduled by the Senate," she affirmed.
Progress has been reported in the ongoing marking of evidence related to articles involving confidential funds and alleged unexplained wealth. Both parties are expected to submit additional comments before the impeachment court issues its pretrial order. This order will serve as the trial's roadmap, detailing the agreed facts, witnesses, exhibits, and hearing schedule.
