The House of Representatives’ prosecution panel officially submitted a 57-page pre-trial brief on Monday, June 15, ahead of the upcoming Senate impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The comprehensive document details the evidence and the lineup of witnesses that prosecutors plan to present during the trial.
House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Garafil submitted the document on behalf of the 11-member prosecution team. The panel is spearheaded by Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro, who chairs the House Committee on Justice.
Alongside the brief, the team also formalised the involvement of 10 private legal counsels to assist with the case.
Garafil confirmed that an ample number of documents were submitted to ensure all members of the high tribunal are accommodated.
“We filed 29 copies of the legal brief, which is more than enough copies for all senators, 24 of them,” Garafil noted.
However, she declined to elaborate on the finer details of the filing.
“With respect to the contents of the brief, I’m not authorized to speak about it,” she stated.
The Senate has set a pre-trial conference for June 18, mandating the attendance of both the prosecution and the Vice President’s defense lawyers.
The preliminary meeting is designed to expedite the trial by refining the core issues, agreeing on undisputed facts, marking official exhibits, and finalizing the schedule for the formal proceedings.