MANILA – The opening day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday will focus on legal and procedural matters, with no witnesses expected to testify yet, according to House of Representatives impeachment adviser and spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers.

In a statement released, Barbers said the Senate impeachment court will first establish the legal framework that will govern the proceedings.

“The Filipino people should expect the Senate impeachment court to first establish the legal framework that will govern the entire trial. That is how any orderly judicial proceeding begins,” Barbers said.

He said the first day will cover the appearance of counsels, the respondent’s plea, opening statements from both sides, and the resolution of preliminary legal issues before the presentation of evidence begins.

“Wala pa pong mga testigo bukas. Wala pang presentation ng ebidensya. Ang unang araw ay para tiyakin na malinaw ang mga patakaran at maayos ang magiging takbo ng paglilitis (No witnesses yet tomorrow. No presentation of evidence yet. The first day is for ensuring that the rules are clear and that the direction of the trial is in order),” he said.

Barbers said the House prosecution panel has completed its preparations and is ready to present its case once the trial enters the evidentiary stage.

He also urged the public not to judge the progress of the proceedings based on the legal arguments made during the opening day.

“Hindi ito debate competition. Hindi rin ito paramihan ng soundbite. Ang tunay na sukatan ng kasong ito ay ang ebidensyang ihaharap at ang magiging pasya ng impeachment court batay sa konstitusyon at sa mga katotohanan (This is not a debate competition. This is not a race of soundbites’ number. The true scale of this case is the evidence to be presented and the would-be decision of the impeachment court based on the constitution and truth),” Barbers said.

He said Monday’s proceedings should be viewed as a demonstration of the country’s constitutional processes at work.

“Ang pinakamahalagang mangyayari bukas ay hindi kung sino ang mas mahusay magsalita. Ang pinakamahalaga ay magsisimula na ang constitutional process ng impeachment. Ito ang mekanismong itinakda ng ating Saligang Batas upang panagutin ang pinakamataas na opisyal ng pamahalaan kapag may seryosong alegasyon laban sa kanila (The most important that will happen tomorrow is not about who can talk better. The most important is that the constitutional process of impeachment is already about to start. This is the mechanism mandated by our constitution to hold responsible the highest official of the government when there is a serious allegation against [any of] them),” he said.

Barbers said the prosecution would respect all rulings of the Senate impeachment court while focusing on presenting evidence in support of the Articles of Impeachment.

“Our commitment is simple: To respect the Court, uphold the Constitution and present the evidence in an orderly, fair and transparent trial. We ask the public to allow the process to unfold and let the evidence speak for itself,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, who also serves as a House trial spokesperson, encouraged young Filipinos to watch the impeachment proceedings from the first day.

“I encourage our young people to watch the proceedings from Day One. Seeing viral clips or social media summaries will not be enough. Watch the process unfold. Understand how processes work and why accountability matters in a democracy,” Co said in a separate statement.

Co said the impeachment trial serves as a reminder that all public officials are accountable under the Constitution.

“One of the most important lessons our youth can learn is that public office is a public trust. No matter how high the position, every public official remains accountable to the Filipino people under the constitution,” she said.