Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said on Tuesday, June 30, that the Senate is fully prepared for the start of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial on Monday, July 6, with final preparations and inspections now underway.

"We're very prepared. Handa na tayo (We're ready). In fact, today will be the physical inspection, and then we'll continue to improve as we go along," Gatchalian told reporters.

"We're on track, and even though the space is limited, we've managed to put everything in order. I understand the prosecution will come here to inspect its area. We will give both the defense and the prosecution the opportunity to inspect their respective areas within the week," he said in Filipino during an ambush interview.

The Senate chief also confirmed that no more pre-trial conferences are scheduled before the trial opens.

Gatchalian was accompanied by Senate Secretary and Impeachment Court Clerk Renato Bantug Jr., as well as other officials, during the walkthrough.

They inspected key areas to be used in the proceedings, checking their condition, layout, and readiness.

The Senate chief previously indicated it could last around 7 to 8 months, depending on how the proceedings go, including the presentation of evidence, witness testimonies, and possible delays from procedural motions.

Asked about the sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) box that surfaced during the pre-trial proceedings, Gatchalian said the impeachment court would determine its fate if the issue is raised during the trial.

"The BIR box will be left to the impeachment court to decide," he said, adding that it is not necessarily the first matter that will be taken up when proceedings begin.

"Not necessarily," he said when asked whether it would be the court's first order of business on Monday.