Senate schedules June 18 pre-trial conference for Sara Duterte impeachment

A closed-door pre-trial conference for the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte is scheduled for June 18 at the Senate. The conference will bring together Duterte’s lawyers and House prosecutors to discuss agreed evidence, witness lists, and procedural rules.

The June 9 notice, signed by Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian, requires both sides to submit pre-trial briefs by June 15. These briefs must list admitted facts, proposed stipulations, documents, and witnesses with summaries of their expected testimony.

Pre-trial purpose and rules Senate Resolution No. 39, adopted in 2011, allows Rules of Court provisions to apply to impeachment proceedings. Under the 2019 amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure, a pre-trial aims to simplify issues, limit witnesses, and set trial dates.

The June 18 conference will cover stipulation of facts, marking of evidence, identification of witnesses, setting of trial dates, and the sequence of evidence presentation. Proceedings will remain closed to the media and public. If new evidence emerges after the conference, parties may still present it provided they notify the opposing side and the court three days in advance.

Witnesses whose safety is a concern may have their identities withheld until presentation.

Comparison to past impeachment trials The Philippines has held pre-trial conferences in two prior impeachment cases. During the 2000-2001 trial of former President Joseph Estrada, a December 6, 2000 pre-trial set witness numbers and timelines, though both targets were later missed.

The 2012 trial of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona proceeded without a pre-trial after then-Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile ruled one unnecessary. Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno, who served as a prosecutor in the Estrada case, said the absence of a pre-trial in the Corona trial slowed proceedings.