All systems go for VP impeachment trial

prosecution’s request for the trial to be conducted in Filipino and English so that the public will better understand the proceedings.

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Duterte was impeached by the House in May and is facing trial over allegations that include misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery involving Department of Education personnel and threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez.

The House prosecution panel submitted to the impeachment court the names of National Bureau of Investigation Bangsamoro regional director Jeremy Lotoc, NBI senior agent John Mark Calilung and House Legislative Security Bureau director Belinda Bello as witnesses to be presented this week.

In the pre-trial order approved by Gatchalian last week, the fourth Article or the grave threats against the President and the others would be tackled first in the trial.

The examination of evidence for the grave threats article is expected to run for 11 trial days. It would be followed by the misuse of confidential funds (31 days), DepEd bribery (eight days) and the unexplained wealth (12 trial days). There will be a total of 92 trial days.

Sara presence

It’s still unclear whether the Vice President will personally appear at her trial. Speaking from Vancouver, Palace press officer Claire Castro said Duterte should personally appear at her trial if she really is serious about her boast of wanting a “bloodbath.”