The pre-trial conference for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte may continue through this week due to the large volume of documentary evidence still being marked.

Defense spokesperson Michael Poa said on Monday, June 22, that both the defense and prosecution remain in the evidence-marking stage, a process intended to identify documents that may later be presented during the trial.

“Nasa marking pa din tayo, marami talagang mga dokumento. We’re anticipating na baka umabot tayo ng Thursday” (We’re still in the marking stage. There are really a lot of documents. We’re anticipating that the process may continue until Thursday [June 25]), Poa said.

He noted that the original pre-trial schedule was set from June 18 to 25, making the possible extension consistent with the timeline already established by the impeachment court.

“Yung unang schedule ng pre-trial, talagang from June 18 to 25 siya” (The original schedule for the pre-trial was really set from June 18 to 25), Poa added.

Poa explained that the documents being marked include records related to the Articles of Impeachment, particularly the first two articles involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds and issues concerning alleged unexplained wealth.

Among the documents being reviewed, Poa said, are Commission on Audit (COA) reports, acknowledgment receipts, Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), and other records previously presented during proceedings before the House Committee on Justice.

“Several documents talaga. Lahat naman from COA reports, acknowledgment receipts, SALN. Hindi na ito bago kasi nai-present na ito sa Committee on Justice pero siyempre dito, mina-mark kasi natin yan” (There are several documents—everything from COA reports, acknowledgment receipts, and SALNs. These are not new since they were already presented before the Committee on Justice, but here, we are marking them for identification purposes), he said.

Poa said both parties are hoping to complete the pre-trial process as soon as possible to allow sufficient time to prepare for the actual impeachment trial.

“Hopefully, matapos namin as soon as possible” (Hopefully, we can finish as soon as possible), Poa said.

“I think both parties naman, the defense and prosecution, gusto naman talaga namin dalawa na mapabilis at matapos na ito para makapag-prepare din kami for the trial itself” (I think both parties—the defense and the prosecution—genuinely want to expedite and conclude this so we can prepare for the trial itself), he added.

However, he acknowledged that the sheer volume of documents has slowed the process.

“But just with the voluminous documents, I think we’re looking at Thursday,” he said, noting that the pre-trial proceedings would continue this week.

Poa also stressed that the ongoing marking of documents should not be interpreted as an admission of the authenticity, admissibility, or truthfulness of any evidence presented by the prosecution.

He explained that the procedure is merely intended to identify and label documents for easier reference during the trial proper.

“Marking really is for identification purposes, para pagdating sa trial, madali na naming ma-identify kung anong exhibit yun” (Marking is really for identification purposes so that when the trial begins, it will be easier for us to identify which exhibit is being referred to), Poa said.

“We’re not admitting anything dito sa marking, that’s very clear under the rules” (We’re not admitting anything during the marking process—that is very clear under the rules), he added.

“Walang admission dito, walang admission of authenticity, o admissibility ng document itself. Ito ay purely for identification purposes lamang” (There is no admission here—no admission of authenticity or admissibility of the document itself. This is purely for identification purposes), Poa said.

The impeachment trial is expected to proceed to the presentation and examination of evidence once pre-trial proceedings are completed.

Duterte’s trial is scheduled to begin on July 6, with the Senate sitting as the impeachment court.