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7 to 8-month impeachment trial? House prosecution team fine with it
Philippines
National
7 to 8-month impeachment trial? House prosecution team fine with it
7 to 8-month impeachment trial? House prosecution team fine with it
Published Jun 28, 2026 05:47 pm
At A Glance
- The House prosecution panel says it is prepared for a seven‑ to eight‑month Senate impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing its commitment to present evidence article by article.
- Rep. Joel Chua explained that the panel may waive some articles if earlier presentations already establish strong evidence, and clarified that senator‑judges will vote only after the full presentation.
- He notes that the the trial proper is set to begin July 6 with four articles of impeachment.
The House prosecution panel (Senate Facebook)
The House prosecution panel finds no problem at all with a protracted Senate impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte that may run seven to eight months.
Prosecutor Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua said on Sunday, June 28 that the panel would use this as an opportunity to fully lay down its cards against the twice-impeached lady official.
“Basta tayo po ay gagawin lamang po namin sa abot na aming makakaya, lahat ng aming magagawa para mai-presenta sa ating mga kababayan at impeachment court ang mga ebidensya base po sa per artikulo,” Chua told DZBB radio in an interview.
(We will only do our best, everything we can, to present to our people and the impeachment court the evidence based on each article.)
“Wala pong bibitiw (We're not letting go),” Chua said in response to a statement from Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian that Duterte’s impeachment trial could last seven to eight months.
This was a significant jump from the three-month estimate that lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro initially shared.
Chua, however, said the prosecution’s proposed 62 presentation days should not be mistaken for the actual length of the trial.
“Pero hindi naman ibig sabihin noon lahat ’yan masusunod (But that doesn't mean that it will all happen),” he said.
He explained that the estimate assumes one witness per hearing and could be significantly shortened if prosecutors present two or three witnesses in a single day. The prosecution had earlier listed down 57 witnesses.
Chua said the prosecution may also decide not to present all four articles of impeachment if it believes the evidence already introduced is sufficient to secure a conviction.
“Kung saka-sakali po halimbawa dumating pagkaraan po ng dalawang articles, sa tingin po namin ay may sapat na numero na at talagang matibay na matibay na ebidensya na nai-presenta namin, eh pwede naman din po dumating ang pagkakataon ay i-waive na namin ‘yung ibang articles,” he said.
(If, for example, after two articles we believe we already have enough numbers and very strong evidence presented, then there may come a time when we waive the other articles.)
He also explained why the volume of documentary evidence grew during the pre-trial conference, which was held for five days behind closed doors at the Senate.
According to Chua, the prosecution has around 4,000 acknowledgment receipts (ARs) tied to confidential funds. But because the defense declined a common marking procedure and instead opted to separately mark the same documents, the number of documents processed effectively doubled.
“Pwede naman kasi ’yung common marking, ibig sabihin po sa isang dokumento puwedeng ’yung defense at saka ’yung prosecution eh doon na lang magmarka sa isang dokumento,” Chua noted.
(Common marking is possible, meaning both defense and prosecution could mark in the same document.)
“Pero nangyari dahil ayaw pumayag ng defense at gusto nila separate marking yung gawin sa kanila, so ’yung 4,000 dokumento naging 8,000,” he pointed out.
(But because the defense refused and wanted separate markings, the 4,000 documents became 8,000.)
When will voting take place?
Chua says the senator-judges aren't supposed to vote after each article is presented. Instead, voting will come only after the prosecution has completed its presentation, including any articles it decides to waive.
The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to begin the trial proper on July 6, with Duterte facing impeachment over allegations that include the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery involving Department of Education (DepEd) personnel, and threats against the country’s top officials.
“Halimbawa sa tingin namin hanggang Article 3 lang, or hanggang Article 2 lang, pwede na naming i-waive ‘yung dalawa, saka pa lamang mabobotohan kada article. So kailangan tapusin muna lahat,” the Manila solon said.
(If we believe that up to Article 3, or even just up to Article 2, we can already waive the remaining two, only then will each article be voted on. So everything must first be completed.)
Chua said the prosecution is not required to call every witness or present every article if the case can already be proven through fewer testimonies and documents.
The prosecution panel earlier said the articles would be presented in sequence: alleged threats against the President and other top officials, misuse of confidential funds, bribery involving DepEd personnel, and unexplained wealth.