Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Wednesday said the House prosecution team and its private lawyers are ready to comply with the Senate impeachment court’s process as the trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte moves to the next stage.
In a televised interview, Adiong, a spokesperson for the House prosecution panel, said the Senate had already adopted a timeline that both sides are expected to follow after the chamber convened as an impeachment court on Monday.
“Well, the Senate has already adopted and set the timeline. Unless, of course, there’s a massive change that might happen,” he said. “We don’t know. But based on the dates and the timeline that they have set, I’m pretty sure that both camps would abide by the summons, by the writ of summons.”
The process is expected to begin with the issuance of summons to Duterte, followed by the submission of answers, replies and other preparatory steps before trial proper.
“And so, probably, around June, the actual trial will begin,” Adiong said.
Adiong said the prosecution remains confident that, once the evidence is presented to the public and the Senate impeachment court, the case will be evaluated on the strength of the official records.
“As soon as we present the evidence to the people and to the Senate itself, acting as an impeachment court, I’m positive for a favorable outcome,” he said.
The House impeachment case against Duterte covers allegations involving confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged bribery, and grave threats, all of which the prosecution is expected to present before senator-judges.
Adiong said private prosecutors are also part of the preparation, although he declined to identify them ahead of the formal proceedings.
“I’m not specifically privy to the names of the, but there are also private prosecutors. They are ready, they are on standby,” he added.
The lawmaker from Mindanao said the House prosecution panel is prepared to follow the process set by the impeachment court and to present its case when directed to do so.
Adiong said the next stages will determine how the evidence is heard and tested, but the prosecution is ready to proceed under the rules adopted by the Senate.
Regular Briefings
Meanwhile, Adiong said the House prosecution panel is considering regular press briefings during the impeachment trial to help the public understand the proceedings and prevent confusion over legal issues raised before the Senate impeachment court.
In a separate radio interview, Adiong said the prosecution team is preparing for the possibility of long trial days, close public attention and constant questions from media and citizens following the case.
He said the exact format is still being discussed, but he personally believes that regular briefings would be useful, especially because the impeachment trial is already one of the most closely watched political and constitutional events in the country.
“Para sa ganon ay mas madali para sa ating mga kaibigan sa media na mailahad ang mga dapat mailahad na information at magtanong na rin ng ating partners in the media ‘yung mga kinakailangan tanong para po magkaroon ng mas masusing diskusyon at mas clarified na information na maipapahatid po natin sa publiko (That way, it would be easier for our media friends to express any information that needs to be stated, and at the same time, for them to ask pertinent questions and have a thorough discussion on any information that they want to clarify for the public),” he added.
Adiong said formal briefings would also help reporters obtain clearer information from the prosecution side while avoiding multiple interpretations of what happened in the impeachment court. (With a report from Zaldy De Layola/PNA)