The House prosecution panel has officially listed 57 potential witnesses for the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, aiming to protect the integrity of their case before the Senate impeachment court.
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, who heads the prosecution team, confirmed that the pre-trial brief submitted to the Senate on Monday contains a exhaustive list of witnesses and documents crucial to supporting the four articles of impeachment.
In a radio interview on Tuesday, Luistro explained that the team is taking no chances with procedural technicalities regarding the submission of evidence.
“We became very conscious about the rule that witnesses and exhibits which are not marked or presented during pre-trial cannot be presented during trial. Ibig sabihin, nagsigurado na kami,” Luistro explained.
The lawmaker emphasized that the panel is being exceptionally thorough to avoid any legal oversights that could weaken their presentation.
“As to the number of witnesses, the final number is 57. We included every piece of evidence na alam namin may relevance whatsoever dito sa… articles of impeachment,” she said.
Luistro pointed out that under the Senate’s strict rules governing impeachment proceedings, introducing unlisted testimonies or exhibits once the trial begins is completely forbidden.
“Hindi pwede. Bawal ang surprise witnesses. That is why lahat ng ebidensya dapat mamarkahan during pre-trial,” she stated. “Otherwise, kung hindi mo yan namarkahan, hindi mo nasama ang pangalan, wala kang reservation, they will not be allowed to be presented during the trial.”
While the lineup of witnesses is extensive, Luistro clarified that the prosecution may not necessarily call every single individual to the witness stand once the trial formally starts on July 6.
The Senate impeachment court is set to hold its pre-trial conference on June 18. During this session, both the prosecution and the defense panels are expected to finalize their respective witness lists, mark their documentary evidence, and establish stipulated facts before entering the formal trial phase.