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Advocates Philippines
Zamora: VP Duterte Defense Will Receive Prosecution Brief Ahead Of Impeachment Pre-Trial
Photo credit: Atty. Bel Zamora
San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria J. Zamora said Vice President Sara Duterte and her legal team will be formally provided with the House prosecution’s pre-trial brief, including the list of witnesses and documentary evidence, ahead of the Senate impeachment court’s pre-trial conference on June 18.
Zamora made the clarification after questions were raised on whether the defense would be properly informed of the materials the prosecution intends to present during the impeachment proceedings.
“Definitely, they will be informed because they will be given a copy of our pre-trial brief in the same way that they will be giving us also a copy of their pre-trial brief. To your question, whether the defense will be informed, definitely yes,” Zamora clarified.
She said both sides are expected to appear at the pre-trial conference, where they will exchange filings and discuss procedural matters before the trial proper begins.
“The defense lawyers and in fact the vice president are expected to be there at the pre-trial conference. So, kung ano man ang nakalagay po sa pre-trial brief naming makikita nila ‘yun, at sila din po mismo ay kailangan mag-submit din po ng kanilang pre-trial brief which we will all discuss at the pre-trial conference on Thursday,” she added.
The House prosecution panel submitted its pre-trial brief on Monday, identifying witnesses, documentary evidence, and proposed issues for resolution as part of the formal preparation for trial.
Zamora emphasized that since the impeachment court has convened, the prosecution has avoided discussing the merits of the case publicly, citing sub judice rules.
“Unang-una, simula ng nag-convene ang impeachment court, wala kaming nilalabas na ebidensya, wala kaming sinasabi about the merits because as we have said, we’re under sub judice,” Zamora explained.
“Bawal po kami maglabas ng ebidensya. Bawal po kami mag-discuss ng merito ng kaso ngayon,” she added.
She also said the defense is free to present its own evidence before the impeachment court and that the prosecution expects a full airing of both sides during trial.
“And in fact, to their statement that they will just release it at the court, then that’s great. Because we expect them to state their case and to present their evidence if they have evidence,” Zamora said.
Zamora rejected suggestions that the House prosecution panel is controlling public perception or limiting the defense’s voice.
“You know we never said that we should not listen to Vice President Sara Duterte or to her lawyers,” she said.
She pointed out that the vice president had been repeatedly invited to respond during earlier House Committee on Justice hearings but did not fully participate in those proceedings.
“In fact, we have been wanting them to speak at the Committee on Justice hearings. Hindi ba ilang beses pong tinatawag ang pangalan niya, ilang beses po siyang inimbitahan, ilang beses po naming hinihintay ang kanyang mga pahayag, ang kanyang mga ebidensya, ang kanyang sagot sa mga allegations sa kanya sa impeachment complaints,” she added.
Zamora said the impeachment process is meant to ensure both sides are heard in the proper forum, with evidence tested before the Senate impeachment court.
“So hindi po tama na sabihin na kino-control namin ang naratiba. Gusto lang po namin in fact gusto namin na sila ay magsalita, ilabas natin ang aming ebidensya, ilabas nila ang kanilang ebidensya,” she said.
House impeachment spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur also said the defense cannot restrict the prosecution from informing the public about procedural developments.
“If they choose to remain silent about all of these things, that’s their business. But they cannot dictate upon us not to inform the public of every development that is happening when it comes to the issue of impeachment,” Alonto Adiong said.
“Because the public deserves to know. They deserve clarity,” he added.
The Senate impeachment court is set to hold its pre-trial conference on June 18, where both sides will finalize key procedural matters ahead of the July 6 start of the trial proper.
Zamora made the clarification after questions were raised on whether the defense would be properly informed of the materials the prosecution intends to present during the impeachment proceedings.
“Definitely, they will be informed because they will be given a copy of our pre-trial brief in the same way that they will be giving us also a copy of their pre-trial brief. To your question, whether the defense will be informed, definitely yes,” Zamora clarified.
She said both sides are expected to appear at the pre-trial conference, where they will exchange filings and discuss procedural matters before the trial proper begins.
“The defense lawyers and in fact the vice president are expected to be there at the pre-trial conference. So, kung ano man ang nakalagay po sa pre-trial brief naming makikita nila ‘yun, at sila din po mismo ay kailangan mag-submit din po ng kanilang pre-trial brief which we will all discuss at the pre-trial conference on Thursday,” she added.
The House prosecution panel submitted its pre-trial brief on Monday, identifying witnesses, documentary evidence, and proposed issues for resolution as part of the formal preparation for trial.
Zamora emphasized that since the impeachment court has convened, the prosecution has avoided discussing the merits of the case publicly, citing sub judice rules.
“Unang-una, simula ng nag-convene ang impeachment court, wala kaming nilalabas na ebidensya, wala kaming sinasabi about the merits because as we have said, we’re under sub judice,” Zamora explained.
“Bawal po kami maglabas ng ebidensya. Bawal po kami mag-discuss ng merito ng kaso ngayon,” she added.
She also said the defense is free to present its own evidence before the impeachment court and that the prosecution expects a full airing of both sides during trial.
“And in fact, to their statement that they will just release it at the court, then that’s great. Because we expect them to state their case and to present their evidence if they have evidence,” Zamora said.
Zamora rejected suggestions that the House prosecution panel is controlling public perception or limiting the defense’s voice.
“You know we never said that we should not listen to Vice President Sara Duterte or to her lawyers,” she said.
She pointed out that the vice president had been repeatedly invited to respond during earlier House Committee on Justice hearings but did not fully participate in those proceedings.
“In fact, we have been wanting them to speak at the Committee on Justice hearings. Hindi ba ilang beses pong tinatawag ang pangalan niya, ilang beses po siyang inimbitahan, ilang beses po naming hinihintay ang kanyang mga pahayag, ang kanyang mga ebidensya, ang kanyang sagot sa mga allegations sa kanya sa impeachment complaints,” she added.
Zamora said the impeachment process is meant to ensure both sides are heard in the proper forum, with evidence tested before the Senate impeachment court.
“So hindi po tama na sabihin na kino-control namin ang naratiba. Gusto lang po namin in fact gusto namin na sila ay magsalita, ilabas natin ang aming ebidensya, ilabas nila ang kanilang ebidensya,” she said.
House impeachment spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur also said the defense cannot restrict the prosecution from informing the public about procedural developments.
“If they choose to remain silent about all of these things, that’s their business. But they cannot dictate upon us not to inform the public of every development that is happening when it comes to the issue of impeachment,” Alonto Adiong said.
“Because the public deserves to know. They deserve clarity,” he added.
The Senate impeachment court is set to hold its pre-trial conference on June 18, where both sides will finalize key procedural matters ahead of the July 6 start of the trial proper.
Jun 16, 2026
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