MANILA — House prosecutors asked the Senate Impeachment Court to adopt four additional pre-trial measures they said would help ensure the orderly and efficient conduct of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a pleading titled “Manifestation with Proposal on Certain Additional Pre-Trial Matters,” the prosecution panel proposed the use of both Filipino and English during proceedings, advance disclosure of witnesses, the participation of both public and private prosecutors in witness examinations, and the opening of a sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records box under the court’s supervision.

The proposals were submitted as part of ongoing pre-trial proceedings ahead of the scheduled start of the trial on July 6.

One of the proposals seeks to allow lawyers and witnesses to use either Filipino or English during the proceedings. The prosecution said the use of Filipino would make the trial more accessible to the public and help witnesses express themselves more clearly.

According to the panel, the impeachment proceedings involve issues of public interest and should therefore be understandable to ordinary Filipinos following the case. The proposal would not replace English but would permit the use of either language during testimony and arguments.

The prosecution also expressed willingness to adopt a defense proposal requiring both parties to disclose intended witnesses at least three calendar days before they are scheduled to testify.

Prosecutors said the defense argued that advance notice would provide adequate time to prepare for witness examination. While noting that their witnesses and expected testimonies had already been identified in their Pre-Trial Brief, the prosecution said it was prepared to comply with the request to avoid possible delays during the trial.

The panel said such an arrangement would prevent either side from later claiming surprise or insufficient preparation as a basis for postponement.

Another proposal seeks authority for both public and private prosecutors to conduct witness examinations, including direct, cross, and re-direct questioning.

According to the prosecution, the impeachment case involves a wide range of issues, including public finance, government auditing, confidential funds, banking records, and other specialized matters that may require different areas of expertise.

Allowing both public and private prosecutors to participate in questioning witnesses would help ensure a more efficient presentation of evidence, the panel said. It added that it would not oppose a similar arrangement for the defense team.

The prosecution also asked the court to open a sealed BIR records box transmitted to the Senate as part of the impeachment records.

Under the proposal, the court would supervise the opening of the box, conduct an inventory of its contents, and allow the documents to be pre-marked before trial.

The prosecution said both sides have identified BIR-related documents among their reserved evidence and argued that determining the contents of the sealed package at an early stage would be prudent.

Prosecutors stressed that opening the box would not automatically render any document admissible as evidence. Issues involving authenticity, relevance, admissibility, and evidentiary value would still be resolved by the impeachment court if the documents are formally offered during trial.

The panel said an inventory would promote transparency, prevent disputes over access to records, and allow both parties to prepare more effectively.

House prosecutors described the proposals as practical measures intended to minimize procedural disputes and keep the focus of the proceedings on the presentation of evidence and witness testimony.

The Senate Impeachment Court is expected to take up the proposals as pre-trial proceedings continue before the formal opening of the trial on July 6.