House prosecutors ready for Duterte trial

THE House prosecution panel is ready for the July 6 opening of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial, according to its lead prosecutor.

“We are very much ready,” lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville R. Luistro told reporters in mixed English and Filipino on Thursday. “As a matter of fact, we have been preparing since the 19^th Congress.”

“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 added.

She said the Senate impeachment court is expected to hear the opening statements of both sides and take up pending motions on the first day of the trial.

She declined to comment on the merits of the case.

Ms. Luistro called on the public to pray for “the conviction of the respondent” while also asking for prayers for the prosecution panel, the defense team, the senator-judges, and the country.

“Join us as we pray for the conviction of the respondent in this impeachment trial,” she said after attending a mass in Quezon City.

Ms. Luistro said serving as a prosecutor in the impeachment case was not easy, adding that the panel remained committed to protecting the interests of the Filipino people and upholding the Constitution.

Meanwhile, private prosecutor Lorna Patajo-Kapunan said the pre-trial order had been finalized, with the prosecution listing 57 witnesses and the defense more than 20.

She confirmed that the prosecution had submitted its comments on the pre-trial order but declined to discuss their contents.

Few technical matters remain before the prosecution begins presenting its evidence on Monday, she said.

On the sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue box, Ms. Kapunan said discussions on its contents should be conducted openly rather than in executive session, although she said that the matter would ultimately be decided by the Senate impeachment court.

Asked whether the prosecution had reiterated in its comments that private prosecutors should be allowed to present and examine witnesses, Ms. Kapunan said the Senate impeachment rules permit them to do so under the supervision of the House prosecution panel.

She declined to identify the prosecution’s first witnesses, saying doing so would reveal part of its trial strategy.

Ms. Duterte is facing four articles of impeachment alleging misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and an assassination plot against President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. She has denied the allegations. — Pexcel John Bacon