LEAD prosecutor and House Committee on Justice Chair Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro on Thursday declared the House prosecution panel is fully prepared for the July 6 start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
“We are very much ready,” Luistro told reporters after a Mass for Truth, Justice, and Accountability organized by the Clergy for Good Governance at the Chapel of the Nativity of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cubao, Quezon City.
“As a matter of fact, 19th Congress pa tayo naghahanda. And I can honestly tell the Filipino people, the House prosecutors and the private prosecutors are all ready as we start this impeachment trial this coming July 6,” she said.
Luistro said the Senate impeachment court is expected to hear opening statements and resolve pending motions on the first day of trial.
She declined to discuss the merits of the case, citing the ongoing proceedings.
“I hope you understand we cannot comment too much on the merits, and that is why ’yun lang muna ang masasabi natin,” she said.
Both the prosecution and defense had completed the pre-trial conference, where they identified documentary evidence, witnesses, legal issues, stipulations and admissions before the issuance of the pre-trial order.
Private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan said the prosecution had listed 57 witnesses, compared with more than 20 for the defense, and had already complied with the pre-trial order requiring both sides to identify them before trial to prevent surprise testimony.
Asked about the order of presentation, Kapunan said the prosecution would first present the article of impeachment involving Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, in accordance with the impeachment court’s pre-trial order.
“Sa pretrial order, ’yun po ang una, threats po,” she said.
Kapunan also confirmed that the prosecution had filed its comment on the pre-trial order but declined to discuss its contents.
“We filed our comment yesterday (Wednesday). I cannot disclose the gist of our comments now. Hintayin natin ang impeachment court na mag-order o mag-comment sa comment namin,” she said.
Despite that, Kapunan said the prosecution was satisfied with the pre-trial order.
“We are very happy with the pre-trial order,” she said.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on May 11 after 257 lawmakers endorsed the verified complaint charging her with betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
