Romer Butuyan 
Puspusan at paspasan pero maingat na sinuri ng court secretariat ang bulto-bultong dokumentong isinumite ng magkabilang panig bago pa man ang pormal na pagsisimula ng impeachment trial sa kasong kinakaharap ng pangalawang pangulo. (Larawan ni Cesar Morales)
MATAPOS ang limang araw, tuluyan nang tinapos ng Senate impeachment court ang ‘marking of evidence’ na bahagi ng pre-trial conference bago pa man ang pormal na pagsisimula ng pagdinig sa kasong kinakaharap ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Natapos na po ang marking of exhibits and terminated na rin ang pre-trial conference,” bungad ni lead prosecutor at Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro sa press conference matapos ang naturang proseso.
“We expressed our thanks and gratitude to the impeachment court, sapagkat through the intervention of the impeachment court, nakatapos kami mag-marking, especially with voluminous documents pertaining to the article on unexplained wealth and the article on confidential funds,” dugtong niya.
Pinuri rin ni Luistro Senate impeachment court sa ipinamalas na sakripisyo at pagsisikap markahan ang bulto-bultong dokumento para tiyakin matatapos sa takdang araw ang proseso.
Para sa abogadong lady solon, malaking bentahe ang paninindigan ng court secretariat sa kabila ng kabi-kabilang diskarteng panggulo defense panel.
Hirit ng House prosecution panel, itala sa record ng proceedings ang obserbasyon ng court secretariat sa tangkang pag-antala ng defense team sa exhibits marking.
“We put on record our observation about the common exhibits that in spite of the willingness of the prosecution that we share the marking in the same exhibit, because after all, it is exactly the same. That’s why we call it a common exhibit. The defense maintained their position to put their marking on a separate set of documents,” paglalahad pa ni Luistro.
“I placed on record that that position of the defense actually prolonged the process of pre-marking of the exhibits of both the defense and the prosecution,” dagdag ng Batangas lady lawmaker.
Nauna nang kinumpirma ni Luistro na nasa 4,000 documentary na may kinalaman sa confidential fund disbursements ang pinamarkahan ng prosecution panel.
Sa naturang bilang, 2,000 dokumento ang mula sa Office of the Vice President (OVP) at lampas 1,900 naman ang galing sa Department of Education (DepEd).
“So mamarkahan ng prosecution individually. And then because they (Defense) refuse to agree that we mark in the same document, then they have to mark as well those 4,000 exhibits, which likewise form part of their documents. Walong libo in total.”
