MANILA — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte may extend beyond September as both the prosecution and defense prepare to present a substantial number of witnesses and documentary evidence, House prosecutors said.

House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro said after the latest pretrial conference that the previously expected timeline may no longer be enough given the scope of the case.

“If I will consider the number of witnesses and exhibits of both parties, mukhang hindi kakayanin ng hanggang September lang (it appears the trial may not be completed by September alone),” Luistro told reporters.

She said the final schedule will still depend on the impeachment court, which will determine how many hearing dates will be allotted to each side.

The trial proper is scheduled to begin on July 6.

House panel legal spokesperson and private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said the prosecution has requested 62 trial dates, while the defense has asked for 30.

He added that the proceedings could still be completed earlier depending on how efficiently the court manages witness presentations.

“It’s possible that it could be shorter,” Tolosa said, noting that multiple witnesses may be presented within a single hearing day.

Despite differences during pretrial proceedings, Luistro said the prosecution remains committed to starting the trial on schedule.

“Even if there will be attempts, the prosecution will remain firm in making sure that the trial will start on July 6, 2026, as previously scheduled by the Senate,” she said.

The prosecution panel also reported progress in the marking of evidence for articles involving confidential funds and alleged unexplained wealth. Both parties are expected to submit additional comments before the impeachment court issues its pretrial order.

The forthcoming order will serve as the framework for the trial, including agreed facts, witness lists, exhibits, and the hearing schedule.