Senate impeachment court to allow 'surprise' witnesses in Sara Duterte trial

The Senate impeachment court will allow both the House prosecution panel and the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte to present surprise witnesses during the impeachment trial, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said on Monday.

Bantug, who also serves as clerk of the Senate impeachment court, said parties intending to present surprise witnesses — or those not identified during the pre-trial conference — must notify the opposing side at least three days before their scheduled presentation.

“Both parties have the right to make reservations as to witnesses that may not be available yet during the pre-trial, and they will inform the parties of calling such witnesses at least three days before the presentation. That is allowed,” Bantug told reporters.

The pre-trial conference resumed on June 22 following its opening session on June 18. Bantug said he hopes the marking of documentary evidence for Articles I and II will be completed within the day.

He added that the pre-trial order may be released by Thursday, June 25, in line with the impeachment calendar, which sets its issuance between June 18 and June 25.

“Hopefully, we can have it out even before that, but it’s a tight schedule considering we are only about two weeks away from the trial,” he said.

The pre-trial conference serves as the initial meeting between the prosecution and defense panels before senator-judges formally convene as an impeachment court on July 6.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte in May over allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.

On June 1, Duterte’s camp filed its answer to the Articles of Impeachment and asked the impeachment court to dismiss the case.—MCG, GMA News