The House of Representatives prosecution panel will try to complete its presentation of evidence by the end of September to help the Senate impeachment court finish Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s trial before December, House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said Friday.

In an online press briefing, Ridon said he supports Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian’s announcement to hopefully conclude the trial before December, but emphasized that “the timetable is a target, not a guarantee.”

He noted that the prosecution, defense and the Vice President have all publicly called for a speedy resolution.

“We share the same sentiment as the Senate President na hopefully matapos sa pinakamaagang panahon itong paglilitis (that the trial will be finished at the soonest possible time),” Ridon said.

“We will try to wrap up all of the presentation of evidence hopefully by the end of next month para may pagkakataon iyong defense na mailatag nila iyong kanilang (so that the defense will also have the opportunity to present their) evidence from October up until probably the end or middle of November,” he added.

The panel is currently presenting evidence on the alleged misuse of confidential funds and has lined up witnesses from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), as well as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Bribery and unexplained wealth remain among the articles to be presented by the prosecution.

“Hopefully by the end of September, we will be done,” Ridon said.

The schedule was affected by inclement weather that canceled two hearing days this week.

Ridon backed a proposal that the impeachment court consider a fourth trial day each week or longer daily hearings.

“I think that is something that the Senate Impeachment Court should look into,” he said.

He also said that documents no longer contested should be covered by stipulations so that the parties do not spend trial time proving matters already subject to agreement.

However, he stressed that any extension must account for the workload and capacity of Senate personnel, not only the convenience of the litigating parties, as longer hours and additional days require staff to prepare records, manage exhibits, produce transcripts and support the court.

“They will really have to consult with the Senate Secretary at kung kakayanin ba ng mga kawani ng Senado na magkaroon ng ganito ka-extended na mga araw ng pagpasok (if Senate employees can cope with extended working days),” Ridon said.

He said the prosecution will not dictate the calendar but will follow the arrangement adopted by the impeachment court and Senate leadership in the coming weeks.

The prosecution panel, he said, would also control its own presentation by reviewing the evidence after every witness.

“We will decide on a week-to-week, day-to-day, witness-per-witness basis kung sapat-sapat na (if it’s already enough) and we can move on to the next article,” he said.

“Barring another round of massive rainfall, hopefully wala ng (there will be no more) further delays,” Ridon said. (PNA)