THE long-awaited trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte opens on July 6 as the House prosecution panel begins laying out its evidence this week before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
House prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua called it the “first day toward the truth,” saying the impeachment trial is where every allegation and every defense must ultimately stand or fall on the evidence.
“For months, the public has heard allegations, denials and political commentary. On July 6, the Filipino people will finally see the impeachment process do what it was designed to do—hear the preliminaries and evidence in the succeeding days,” Chua said on Sunday.
“Kung may paliwanag, doon ito dapat iharap. Kung may ebidensya, doon ito dapat marinig. Ang impeachment court ang itinakdang lugar ng Konstitusyon para rito,” he added.
The Senate impeachment court is expected to begin proceedings on Monday with opening statements from both sides and the resolution of pending matters before prosecutors begin presenting evidence supporting the Articles of Impeachment.
The prosecution’s presentation is expected on July 7 and July 8 with the first witnesses for Article IV, which accuses Duterte of committing a culpable violation of the Constitution by making grave threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
In compliance with the impeachment court’s pre-trial order, the prosecution panel has submitted its initial list of witnesses for the first three hearing days.
Among those scheduled to testify are National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Bangsamoro Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, NBI Cyber Investigation and Assessment Center Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, and Legislative Security Bureau Executive Director Capt. Belinda Bello.
Article IV stems from Duterte’s public statement in November 2024 that she had hired someone to kill President Marcos, the First Lady and Romualdez if she herself were killed. She followed it by saying, “No joke. No joke.”
The prosecution alleges the statement constituted a grave threat against the country’s top officials and forms one of the grounds for her impeachment.
Prosecutors are expected to use the testimony of the initial witnesses to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged threats and authenticate official records and other documentary evidence supporting the charge.
Chua said the first days of the trial will demonstrate the difference between political discourse and the constitutional process.
“Hindi ito paramihan ng tao. Hindi ito paramihan ng ingay. Ang mahalaga ay kung ano ang mapapatunayan sa pamamagitan ng records, mga dokumento at testimonya,” he said.
He said the prosecution is fully prepared to present its case and is asking only that the constitutional process be allowed to proceed.
“Ang hinihiling lang namin ay mabigyan ng pagkakataon na mailatag nang maayos ang aming mga ebidensya. May karapatan ang depensa na sumagot at may karapatan ang taumbayan na malaman ang katotohanan,” Chua said.
The House prosecution panel has consistently maintained that the Senate’s constitutional duty is to hear the evidence before rendering judgment.
Prosecutors have likewise emphasized that the impeachment trial is intended to determine whether the allegations against Duterte are supported by documentary evidence and witness testimony presented under oath.
Following the presentation of the prosecution’s witnesses during the first three hearing days, the impeachment court is expected to continue receiving evidence supporting the remaining Articles of Impeachment in accordance with the trial schedule to be approved by the Senate.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives over allegations that include the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery involving Department of Education personnel, and making grave threats against the country’s top officials.
“As prosecutors, our responsibility is to present the evidence entrusted to us before the impeachment court and allow the constitutional process to take its course,” Chua said.
“The Filipino people deserve to hear the facts, examine the records and judge the case based on the evidence presented in court,” Chua added.
metrosundaily
