“MOVING FORWARD” The first pretrial meeting on Thursday may already offer a preview of how tough the battle will be between the prosecution and defense panels in the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. —KEITH CLORES
MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel and the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday took another step toward the July 6 start of her impeachment trial despite heated arguments during their first pretrial conference to agree on the evidence and witnesses to be presented.
Spokespersons for the prosecution team said the pretrial conference was still a success as both parties were able to move forward.
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Michael Poa, a lawyer for Duterte and spokesperson for the defense, said their work would continue on Monday, downplaying the disagreements between the two sides.
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Speaking for the House prosecutors, Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said that while there were initial disagreements, the first day of the pretrial conference was fruitful.
READ: Sara Duterte impeachment pre-trial conference to resume Monday, June 22
The conference was facilitated by Senate Secretary Renato Bantug, who acted as the clerk of court.
“What I want to emphasize is what happened today was successful because the processes leading up to the trial proper have started,” Co said. “This is what we have been waiting for—the pretrial conference, so this is the first time that these two parties meet. That tension—because you have opposing arguments—that is normal.”
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“And moving forward, the pretrial process will continue until it concludes. We go to the trial proper, and then it will continue on until the end in accordance with the principle of due process, even under the rules and regulations laid down by the Constitution,” she added.
Adiong said both parties were directed to submit their respective comments on the stipulation process by June 22 which will be resolved by June 25.
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He said the sparks were expected since it was the first time that the prosecution and the defense met.
“Well, that usually happens during the pretrial conference,” Adiong said. “That’s why you have the pretrial conference to simplify what you can discuss, what should be admitted, what will be contested by each side so that the impeachment court can decide what will be part of the discussions during the trial proper.”
READ: Escudero as presiding officer in Sara Duterte impeachment trial pending
Without going into details on the points of contention during the conference, Co said that these were “normal adversarial proceedings” where they were threshed out.
Ways to expedite
Without directly confirming rumors of the heated discussions during the closed-door session in the Senate’s Recto Hall, Poa noted that disagreements in that phase of an impeachment trial were expected and that the meeting went well.
“So, I think it was a good morning session. At least we found ways to expedite the proceedings,” he told reporters during a break.
There were only “normal” disagreements between the two sides. “But even then, I think it was good because we were—both parties—were able to settle differences,” he said.
By midafternoon the defense and the prosecution had largely agreed on their evidence and witnesses for the third article of impeachment against Duterte—bribery and graft and corruption.
The charge referred to the alleged monetary gifts and secret payments to officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) when she was the education secretary, before she broke away from President Marcos.
“Hopefully, we can finish everything by Monday. If not, we’re prepared to come back on Tuesday as well,” Poa said.
Funds, incomes, threats
“The marking process is not really that fast,” he added. “Of course, we have to compare documents, so it’s only natural and normal that the marking does not proceed very quickly.”
Article I alleged that Duterte misused up to P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and DepEd from late 2022 to 2023.
Article II accused her of accumulating unexplained wealth disproportional to her lawful income as a public official and of nondisclosure of all her assets.
Article IV pertained to her own public disclosure that she had contracted someone to kill Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Earlier, the prosecution panel said that they planned to present 57 witnesses. Poa told reporters that they had 25 to 30, and possibly other “reserve witnesses.”
A pretrial conference is intended to streamline the impeachment trial and prevent unnecessary delays once it begins.
Pretrial conferences for criminal cases are similar and meant to secure a fair trial and to properly lay out defenses by stipulati…
Read the full article at Philippine Daily Inquirer →📄Source document: Escudero may return as VP impeachment trial presiding officer – Lacson→12 reports
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 92Objective 903 days agoThe pre-trial conference for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte will take place on Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Senate. Both the House prosecution panel and Duterte's defense team will address procedural matters such as stipulating facts, identifying evidence, setting witness details, scheduling trial dates, and organizing the presentation of evidence. The timeline for the proceedings depends on the length of the pre-trial briefs submitted by both sides. The prosecution filed a 57-page brief, while Duterte's legal team submitted a 70-page brief.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a factual summary of the upcoming pre-trial conference without expressing any overt political bias. It reports on procedural steps and does not frame the event with ideological language or emphasize one side over the other.
Official sources cited
- government Senate Secretary Renato 'Rey' Bantug
- government House Secretary-General Cheloy Garafil
- court Atty. Michael Poa
GMA News OnlineIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 9010 days agoThe House prosecutors have enlisted 10 private lawyers to assist in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual statement without explicit ideological language, framing, or emphasis that would indicate a clear leaning toward either side of the political spectrum. It simply reports on the legal action taken by House prosecutors regarding the impeachment trial of a high-profile政治图
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 883 days ago Escudero may return as VP impeach trial presiding officer – LacsonSenator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero may be reappointed as the presiding officer of the impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte, following a consensus among members of the majority bloc. Senator Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson stated that Escudero was chosen due to his legal expertise and prior experience with impeachment processes. This would mark Escudero's return to the role he held during the 2025 impeachment trial of Duterte, which faced controversy over constitutional interpretations.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on a political development involving potential roles in an impeachment trial but does not take a stance on the merits of the situation or the individuals involved. The framing remains neutral,
Official sources cited
- court Supreme Court ruling on the one-year bar for impeachment proceedings
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 884 days ago OVP, DepEd officials may be hostile witnesses in VP Duterte trialRep. Gerville Luistro stated that officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) may be called as hostile witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. This follows the filing of a pre-trial brief by the House prosecution panel, which listed potential witnesses and evidence for the June 18 pre-trial conference before the Senate impeachment court. The OVP and DepEd are central to the impeachment allegations, which involve claims of misuse of confidential funds during Duterte's tenure as education secretary.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on legal proceedings and statements from a representative without taking a stance on the merits of the impeachment case or the actions of any individual involved.
Official sources cited
- government Statement by Rep. Gerville Luistro
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 887 days ago Chua, Co question Estrada’s role if absent from impeachment trialHouse prosecutors Joel Chua and Renee Co expressed concerns about Senator Jose 'Jinggoy' Estrada's ability to fulfill his role as a senator-judge in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial if he cannot attend in person. They emphasized the importance of direct observation of witnesses during testimonies.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the concerns of House prosecutors without taking a stance on the issue. It reports their arguments objectively, focusing on their questioning of Estrada's potential inability to perform his duties if absent from the trial. There is no evident bias toward either side of the issue
Official sources cited
- organisation Bantay Impeachment Launch Event
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 888 days ago House prosecution questions Estrada’s role as judge in impeachment trialManila Third District Rep. Joel Chua and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co have raised concerns about the effectiveness of detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada as a senator-judge in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, questioning how he can participate without being physically present. Chua emphasized the importance of physical presence for assessing witness credibility, while Co highlighted the public's expectation of physical participation for quality involvement in the trial.
Bias read (Center): The article presents statements from two lawmakers questioning the effectiveness of a senator-judge who is not physically present. The language is neutral, presenting their concerns without editorializing or bias. No loaded language or one-sided sourcing is evident.
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 8813 days ago Diokno: Watch parties to help public understand Duterte impeachment caseAkbayan party-list Representative Chel Diokno urged the public to participate in watch parties to observe Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, emphasizing that such events would enhance public understanding of the legal process. He suggested that schools and law institutions host these sessions to engage citizens and civil society. The trial has drawn significant public interest due to Duterte's prominence as a potential presidential candidate in the 2028 elections.
Bias read (Center): The article presents Diokno's suggestion neutrally, without overtly favoring any side. It reports his call for public engagement with the impeachment trial but does not take a stance on the trial itself or imply bias toward either Diokno or Duterte.
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 854 days ago Sara Duterte’s ‘undisclosed’ guns to be taken up in trialThe article reports that Vice President Sara Duterte faces potential impeachment due to undisclosed firearms found in her SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth). These firearms, reportedly numbering around 50, include pistols, rifles, and high-caliber weapons, and have not been declared in her financial disclosures. The House prosecution team plans to obtain a detailed list of these firearms from the PNP Firearms Division and seek an expert appraisal to assess their value.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on the discovery of undisclosed firearms linked to Vice President Sara Duterte's SALN and the subsequent legal implications. There is no clear indication of favoring one side over another, with
Official sources cited
- government Office of the Ombudsman
- government PNP Firearms Division
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 8212 days ago House tags VP impeachment response a 'non-answer'The House prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial told the Senate on Monday that her official answer to the articles of impeachment failed to provide a "material response" to the accusations against her. As a result, the panel said it would forgo filing a formal rebuttal, communicating this through a five-page manifestation submitted to the Senate.
Bias read (Center): The report attributes characterizations to the House prosecution panel and describes procedural steps without loaded language or editorializing, presenting the claim as the panel's position rather than the article's own.
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenter2 days ago Group: Escudero as impeach trial lead may impact Senate credibilityA coalition of civil society groups and individuals expressed concerns over the potential designation of Senator Francis Escudero as the presiding officer of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial. They argued that Escudero's prior involvement in the failed 2025 impeachment of Duterte raises questions about his suitability for the role and could undermine the Senate's credibility.
Bias read (Center): The article presents concerns from multiple civil society groups without overtly favoring any side. It reports on the coalition's worries regarding Escudero's past involvement in an impeachment attempt and its potential effect on the Senate's credibility, without taking a clear stance or using slant
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenter2 days ago Marcos backs Escudero’s return to preside over VP impeachment trialPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed no objections to Senator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero potentially returning as the presiding officer of the impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte. Escudero previously faced criticism for delaying the 2025 impeachment trial of Duterte. Marcos stated that Escudero authored the rules used during the previous impeachment process and expressed confidence in his ability to manage the current trial.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a neutral summary of President Marcos's comments regarding Senator Escudero's potential role in the impeachment trial. It includes direct quotes from Marcos without apparent editorializing or biased language. The framing appears balanced, providing context about Escudero's past,
Official sources cited
- government President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Interview with Reporters in Kazan, Russia
Philippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenter2 days ago VP impeachment: ‘Tension,’ disputes mark pretrial meetThe first pretrial meeting for Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial featured tension and disputes between the House prosecution panel and her defense team. Both sides agreed to continue proceedings, with the defense downplaying the disagreements. The meeting was facilitated by Senate Secretary Renato Bantug.
Bias read (Center): The article provides a neutral account of the pretrial meeting without apparent bias. It reports on the tensions and outcomes of the meeting without favoring either side, focusing on factual details such as the continuation of proceedings and the facilitator.
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