House prosecution panel won't comment on pre-trial order in Sara Duterte impeachment trial

The House of Representatives' prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will no longer comment on the pre-trial order issued by the Senate impeachment court, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

"We will not be filing a Comment on the Pre-Trial Order to avoid any possibility that it could be used to delay the hearing on July 6. In any event, there are no significant issues in the Pre-Trial Order that require correction," Atty. Benjamin Tolosa said.

The House prosecution panel had until Thursday to comment on the pre-trial order.

A House impeachment prosecutor echoed Tolosa.

"Tingin ko naman po, wala na pong kailangang idagdag pa dito po sa mga komento sa pre-trial order," House impeachment prosecutor Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said.

"Lalo't higit, very important po sa amin yun pong pagsisimula na po without further delay ito pong July 6, first trial date ng impeachment po ni Vice President Sara Duterte," he added.

Ridon, however, clarified that the House prosecution panel is still pushing for their manifestation to open the sealed box submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the participation of private prosecutors in the examination of witnesses and evidence.

"Tuloy pa rin naman po yung manifestations. So if it gets taken up during the first day of trial, then it is something that will be resolved on the first day of trial on Monday," Ridon said.

The public prosecutor also said the House prosecution panel will submit a list of witnesses for the three trial days next week, in compliance with the pre-trial order.

"Magfa-file ng submission yung prosecution panel doon po sa witness list, ano pong isasalang pong mga witnesses sa darating pong linggo. So, antayin na lang po natin yung pong pinal na mga pangalan. Hopefully, in the next couple of days, ma-disclose po sino po yung mga witnesses na isasalang," Ridon said.

The witnesses will be for the Article of Impeachment on the vice president's threats against President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The said article will be the first to be presented by the prosecution. –NB, GMA News