The pre-trial conference for the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte concluded on Thursday without the opening of a sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) box that allegedly contains her tax records.
Bicol Saro Representative Terry Ridon, a member of the House prosecution panel, said the sealed box was neither opened nor marked as evidence during the five-day pre-trial proceedings.
“Hindi namarkahan at hindi nabuksan ngayong araw. The Clerk of Court cannot rule on the manifestation on the box. It will wait for the comments of the Defense, and we’ll subject the matter to the Senate impeachment court upon reconvening,” Ridon told reporters.
The House prosecutors filed a manifestation on Wednesday requesting the opening of the sealed BIR box. Ridon maintained that only the Senate impeachment court has the authority to decide whether it should be unsealed.
The box was ordered sealed by the House Committee on Justice after the BIR opposed its opening during deliberations on the impeachment complaint against Duterte.
“Naging exhaustive ang pre-trial conference. Lahat ng mga exhibits that we wanted to be placed into the marking had been undertaken, except the BIR box,” Ridon said.
“Ultimately, we leave it to the Senate impeachment court to make that determination,” he added.
The pre-trial conference, which began on June 18, wrapped up on June 25 after five sessions.
Ridon said the House prosecution panel will continue to seek the inclusion of the BIR box as evidence during the trial proper and press for its unsealing.
“Gusto rin ng Defense to be able to state their comment on the manifestation. We will wait for it and they will submit it tomorrow, at the earliest, and it will be the Senate impeachment court to decide,” he said.
With the conclusion of the pre-trial proceedings, the Senate impeachment court is expected to issue a pre-trial order outlining the framework and schedule for the impeachment trial.
Duterte is facing impeachment over allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.
The Senate convened as an impeachment court on May 18. On June 1, Duterte’s legal team filed its answer to the Articles of Impeachment, urging the court to dismiss the case.
