The Senate impeachment court has entered the next phase of the proceedings, as it is set to release the pre-trial order on Monday, serving as a roadmap for the parties in the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte before the trial proper begins on 6 July. 

Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr.—also the clerk of court—informed reporters on Friday that the document in question is currently being drafted, with copies likely to be forwarded to the defense and the prosecution teams by Monday. 

The issuance follows the conclusion of the five-day pre-trial conference on Thursday. The purpose of the pre-trial order is to prevent “administrative delays” and “expedite the trial,” according to Bantug.

Both parties have three days, or until Thursday, to file their comment on the contents of the document, including the trial date, lists of witnesses, and other relevant facts. 

Any concerns raised by either party will not delay the trial scheduled for 6 July, according to Bantug.

“So we will be able to finish before July 6. As for corrections, I would suppose it would be mainly formal. It probably won't be substantive because we will try to be as accurate as we can,” Bantug told reporters. 

As for the substantive portions, such as the pre-marked evidence, Bantug remarked that the Senate impeachment court will do its best to minimize potential errors, given the volume of documents. 

“After that, when we receive their comments, then we will see if there's a need to issue a corrected pre-trial order,” he added.

The upcoming impeachment trial will run from Monday to Wednesday at 2 p.m. This schedule will be in effect prior to the President’s SONA on 27 July, and will be changed to Tuesday to Thursday at the same time afterward.

Meanwhile, Senator Ping Lacson pressed the impeachment court to compel the prosecution and the defense to refrain from commenting on the merits of the case before the public. 

Lacson, who will serve as a senator-judge, argued that failing to do so will attract public opinion that could undermine the proceedings before they even start.

“My only concern is the merits of the case); nothing to do with the process and other similar points of information that the public may appreciate,” Lacson pointed out.

Bantug earlier said that the presentation of evidence may take 92 trial days, though both the prosecution and the defense agreed that it’s highly unlikely the trial will conclude in three months, or until September, as initially projected. 

House prosecutors requested 62 trial dates to present their witnesses, while the defense sought only half that, 30 days. 

House prosecutors initially requested 62 trial dates to present their witnesses, while the defense sought only half that, or 30 days. 

Despite this, the opposing camps said the verdict rests solely with the Senate impeachment court and that any disagreements on the date will not affect the scheduled trial in the first week of July.

VP Duterte is facing allegations of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. 

The charges are primarily related to the alleged misuse of over P600 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, and a plot to have Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez killed.

The Senate would need 16 votes or two-thirds of the 24-member Senate to convict the Vice President, which could derail her presidential ambition in 2028.

The absence of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bato dela Rosa—both allied with the Senate faction supportive of Duterte—has sparked intense debate over whether the 16 votes would be maintained or could be dropped below the threshold, given the circumstances.

Legal experts are divided on the matter, while most senators, including Senate President Win Gatchalian and some of his allies, believe that the constitutionally mandated 16 votes will take precedence regardless of how many senators are present during the trial.