HOUSE prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon on Wednesday expressed confidence that the ongoing evidence-marking process in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte will be completed in time for the scheduled July 6 start of trial.
Ridon gave the assurance on the fourth day of pre-trial proceedings before the Senate impeachment court, where prosecutors, defense lawyers, and court personnel continued reviewing and marking documentary evidence that may be presented during the trial.
According to Ridon, the process moved faster on Wednesday after Senate officials increased the number of marking stations, allowing both sides to process documents more efficiently.
“We had made a progress today because of the additional marking stations,” Ridon told reporters.
“All parties, so defense, prosecution and the clerk of court, naging mas efficient po yung pag-mark po nung mga ebidensya ngayon araw po na ito.”
The House prosecution panel has been working with the defense and the Senate impeachment court to review thousands of pages of documentary evidence ahead of the trial.
Senate officials have expanded the number of marking teams from four to six and extended working hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to help expedite the process.
While hopeful that the marking of evidence would be completed on Thursday, Ridon said the prosecution would promptly notify the Senate impeachment court if additional time becomes necessary.
“Hopefully, we would not need an additional day. But in the event that we might need an additional day, babanggitin naman ho namin ‘yan in the soonest time tomorrow sa Senate impeachment court through the clerk of court,” he said.
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, is currently conducting pre-trial proceedings ahead of the formal opening of the impeachment trial on July 6.
metrosundaily
