House eyes faster Sara trial
Zamora said the prosecution’s witness schedule remains flexible because testimony, cross-examination and procedural objections could alter the planned sequence of presentations.
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Zamora said the prosecution’s witness schedule remains flexible because testimony, cross-examination and procedural objections could alter the planned sequence of presentations.
The House prosecution panel is looking to accelerate the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte by presenting as many as two witnesses in a single hearing, even as the Senate has made all trial records publicly accessible to promote transparency. has made all trial records publicly accessible to promote transparency.
San Juan Rep. Ysabel Zamora, a member of the House prosecution panel, said prosecutors are prepared to present two witnesses a day whenever the proceedings allow.
“We are prepared to present at least two witnesses a day. Of course, we would have to wait until one witness finishes and if he will be allowed to testify by the presiding officer,” Zamora said in a radio interview.
She said the prosecution had already brought a second witness during the trial’s opening week in anticipation that enough time would remain after the first testimony.
Instead, the direct and cross-examinations of National Bureau of Investigation senior agent John Mark Calilung stretched over two trial days as prosecutors and defense lawyers debated the authenticity of Vice President Duterte’s recorded statements containing alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Zamora said the prosecution’s witness schedule remains flexible because testimony, cross-examination and procedural objections could alter the planned sequence of presentations.
3 witnesses
“It is not definite because we have three witnesses and three trial dates for this week. We will just observe how it goes because, truthfully, the arrangement and plan change every day,” she said.
The prosecution is expected to present NBI regional director Jeremy Lotoc, Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and House official Capt. Belinda Bello to support Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment involving Duterte’s alleged threats.
The Senate impeachment court has allotted 92 trial days — 62 for the prosecution and 30 for the defense.
As both sides prepare for months of hearings, the Senate has launched a dedicated impeachment portal on its official website containing all pleadings, court issuances and journals related to the trial.
Senate President Win Gatchalian said the initiative is intended to promote transparency and allow the public to examine the proceedings directly instead of relying on social media, where misinformation has proliferated.
Upload pleadings
“We invite the public to scrutinize, read and understand the proceedings for themselves. We realize that while we, at the upper chamber, sit as senator-judges, the ultimate judges of this impeachment proceeding are the Filipino people,” Gatchalian said.
The Senate secretariat has been directed to upload all pleadings and documents as they are introduced during the trial.
Earlier, Gatchalian said the impeachment court may also ask both parties to streamline their presentations after the first week fell behind schedule.
