By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Senate is expected to devote the opening session of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial to organizational and legal procedures, with the presentation of witnesses and documentary evidence scheduled for a later stage of the proceedings.
Former Surigao del Norte representative Robert Ace Barbers, adviser to the House prosecution panel, said Sunday’s preparations are focused on ensuring that the impeachment court establishes the legal ground rules before hearing the merits of the case.
According to Barbers, the initial session will address matters such as the formal appearance of counsels, the Vice President’s response to the Articles of Impeachment, and other preliminary issues that must first be resolved before trial proper can begin.
He explained that laying down the procedural framework is a standard part of any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding and is intended to guarantee an orderly, fair and transparent trial.
As a result, the public should not expect witness testimonies or the formal submission of evidence during the first day of the Senate proceedings.
Barbers said the prosecution panel is fully prepared once the impeachment court signals the start of the evidentiary phase.
He noted that the prosecution has completed the preparation of its documentary evidence and witnesses and is ready to comply with whatever directives the senator-judges may issue as the trial progresses.
The House panel adviser also emphasized that the impeachment proceedings should be treated as a constitutional process rather than a political spectacle.
He said the outcome of the case will ultimately depend on the quality of the evidence presented and the Senate’s appreciation of the facts and applicable law, not on public rhetoric or media soundbites.
Vice President Duterte is facing impeachment over allegations that include the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of the First Family, and reported irregularities in procurement during her tenure as Secretary of Education.
The Senate’s opening session marks the beginning of what is expected to be one of the country’s most closely watched constitutional proceedings, with both the prosecution and defense preparing for what could become an extended trial involving documentary evidence, witness testimony and legal arguments before the impeachment court.
ia/xf
