Manila: House of Representatives prosecutors on Wednesday filed a manifestation before the Senate Impeachment Court seeking the adoption of four additional pre-trial measures that they said would help ensure an orderly, transparent, and efficient impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. In a pleading titled 'Manifestation with Proposal on Certain Additional Pre-Trial Matters,' the prosecution panel asked the Court to allow the use of Filipino and English during proceedings; require advance disclosure of witnesses; permit both public and private prosecutors to examine witnesses; and open a sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records box currently under the Court's custody.
According to Philippines News Agency, the filing forms part of the ongoing pre-trial proceedings ahead of the formal start of the trial on July 6.
Use of Filipino
The prosecution first proposed that counsel and witnesses be allowed to use either Filipino or English during the proceedings. According to the filing, allowing the use of Filipino would make the trial more accessible to the public and enable witnesses to express themselves more clearly and naturally. The prosecution maintained that because the impeachment trial involves matters of significant public interest, the proceedings should be understandable to ordinary Filipinos who will be following the case. The proposal would not eliminate the use of English but would give participants flexibility to use either language during testimony and arguments.
Advance Disclosure of Witnesses
The prosecution also informed the Court that it was willing to adopt a proposal raised by the defense requiring parties to disclose intended witnesses at least three calendar days before they are scheduled to testify. According to the prosecution, the defense argued that such advance notice would allow it to prepare adequately for witness examination. While prosecutors noted that the identities of their witnesses and the nature of their expected testimonies have already been sufficiently disclosed in their Pre-Trial Brief, they said they were willing to accommodate the request to eliminate any potential basis for delay once trial begins. The prosecution said the arrangement would ensure that neither side could later claim surprise or lack of preparation as grounds for postponing proceedings.
Witness Examination
The prosecution further asked the Court to authorize both public prosecutors and private prosecutors to conduct witness examinations during trial. Under the proposal, designated members of both groups would be allowed to handle direct examination, cross-examination, re-direct examination, and other witness questioning. The panel argued that the impeachment case covers a broad range of issues involving public finance, government auditing, confidential funds, banking records, and other specialized matters that may require different expertise. Allowing both public and private prosecutors to participate would help ensure a more efficient presentation of evidence, the filing stated. The prosecution added that it would not object if a similar arrangement were extended to the defense panel.
Opening of Sealed BIR Box
The last proposal concerned a sealed BIR box transmitted to the Senate as part of the impeachment records. The prosecution asked the Court to open the box under its supervision, conduct an inventory of its contents, and allow the records to be pre-marked before trial. According to the filing, both parties have identified BIR-related documents among their reserved evidence, making it prudent to determine at an early stage what records are actually contained in the sealed package. The prosecution emphasized that opening the box would not automatically make any document admissible as evidence. Questions regarding authenticity, admissibility, relevance, and evidentiary value would still be resolved by the Impeachment Court if and when the documents are formally offered during trial. Prosecutors said an inventory would promote transparency, prevent future disputes over access to documents, and allow both sides to prepare more efficiently. The prosecution stressed that all actions involving the BIR records would re main under the authority and supervision of the Impeachment Court.
House prosecutors described the four proposals as practical pre-trial measures designed to reduce confusion, avoid unnecessary procedural disputes, and ensure that the focus of the impeachment proceedings remains on the presentation of evidence and witness testimony. The Senate Impeachment Court is expected to consider the proposals as pre-trial proceedings continue ahead of the scheduled July 6 commencement of the trial.
