Tinutulak ng House prosecution panel na matapos ang marking of exhibits sa impeachment case laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte at mahintay ang pre-trial order ng Senate impeachment court, ang trial roadmap na magtatakda ng admitted facts, witnesses, exhibits, trial dates, at presentation ng Articles of Impeachment bago ang July 6 trial.
“It has always been the position of the prosecution to expedite the pre-trial conference and that is why we would want really to finish this marking today,” sabi ni lead prosecutor Atty. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro ng Batangas sa press conference ng House prosecution team nitong Lunes sa Senado.
Ayon kay Luistro, nakatuon ang pre-trial work sa documentary exhibits para sa unang dalawang Articles of Impeachment: confidential funds at unexplained wealth.
“I would like to give an update dun sa ating pre-trial conference. On-going po ang marking ng exhibits that is for Article 1, Confidential Fund and Article 2, Unexplained Wealth,” sabi ni Luistro.
Inamin ni Luistro na mahirap tapusin agad ang pre-trial work dahil sa dami ng records at practical limits sa marking of exhibits.
“But of course, there are challenges and limitations and we acknowledge that,” sabi niya.
Ayon kay Luistro, inaasahan ng prosecution na maglalabas ang Senate impeachment court ng pre-trial order matapos mamarkahan ng magkabilang panig ang exhibits. Pwede pa ring maghain ng comments ang parties kung kailangan.
“Now after the marking of all exhibits for both parties, we anticipate to receive the pre-trial order from the impeachment court and after the receipt of the pretrial order, of course both parties are given opportunity to file their respective comment if they desire to do so,” paliwanag ni Luistro.
Giit niya, sa kabila ng natitirang pre-trial steps, tiyak pa rin ang July 6 trial date.
“And what is important of course is with regards to the start of the trial, it is certain that it will commence on July 6 as previously announced by the Senate,” sabi ni Luistro.
Mahalaga umano ang pre-trial order dahil dito nakapaloob ang mga bagay na gagabay sa aktuwal na trial.
“Now about the pre-trial order, this is very important because it contains the stipulations of facts admitted by the parties. It contains the list of witnesses. It contains the marked exhibits,” sabi ni Luistro.
“It has to contain as well even the trial dates and I understand we filed our manifestation as well with respect to the order of presentation of the four articles which we anticipate will be included as well in the pretrial order,” dagdag niya.
Ayon kay Luistro, binding ang pre-trial order hindi lang sa prosecution at defense, kundi pati sa impeachment court.
“The pre-trial order is very important because this is binding between the parties including the impeachment court. Whatever is contained there must be followed by all parties as we proceed to trial of the articles of impeachment,” sabi niya.
Sinubukan umano ng prosecution na pabilisin ang proseso sa pamamagitan ng tatlong teams para sa marking ng voluminous exhibits sa Article I, pero hindi pumayag ang defense dahil kulang umano ito ng abogado para sa ikatlong team.
“For example today, we would like to have three teams for confidential fund. That is for the purpose of marking of our exhibits. Because we understand that our exhibits for Article 1 is indeed extremely voluminous,” sabi ni Luistro.
“However, the defense could not agree to that, claiming that they do not have sufficient lawyertos to attend on the third team of the supposed marking of exhibits for the confidential fund,” dagdag niya.
Ayon kay Luistro, nauunawaan ng prosecution ang limitasyong iyon, pero mananatili silang nakatutok na matapos ang pre-trial process sa lalong madaling panahon para matuloy ang July 6 trial.
“So we understand that, and as a matter of fact, we consider that as one of the limitations and challenges in our objective to proceed and terminate, at the soonest possible time, the instant pre-trial conference,” sabi ni Luistro. /Bistado