Senate Secretary Atty. Renato Bantug Holds Press Conference — June 24, 2026

[0:00] I haven't received a running account of, out of the total 8,000 documents to be marked, how many have been marked so far. [0:07] But the pace today compared to the previous days was a bit faster. [0:11] Because we added one more team for the marking. [0:15] Are Mr. Lothraks, sir, kunyari na sir, hindi talaga matapos mupas? [0:19] Can we say may efekto na yun sa July 6, the start of the trial? [0:22] I wouldn't say that yet. [0:24] Supposing that we end tomorrow, what may happen is that we may not be able to release the pre-trial order by tomorrow. [0:33] Because per the approved calendar that was released before, we were supposed to also issue the pre-trial order. [0:41] But at that time, I think when they drafted the impeachment trial calendar, they were a bit optimistic that the marking the pre-trial will be concluded before June 25. [0:51] But as it happened, as it is happening now, it seems that the two at best would coincide. [0:59] But obviously, we cannot even issue a pre-trial order until all documents are marked, until the pre-trial is concluded. [1:09] Since the pre-trial order may come in by next week, how will that affect the July 6, the start of the trial? [1:14] If you are to base it on a simple count of calendar days, it's still possible. [1:22] It's still possible, yes. [1:24] That's one thing that would have to be resolved by the impeachment court. [1:39] I haven't been able to discuss it with the Senate President yet, but so far, I've more or less had the documents ready for transmittal to the officers of the Senate or judges. [1:55] But when it comes to the impeachment court, how do you resolve the impeachment court or can the presiding officer decide on that? [2:04] I wouldn't want to preempt any decision on that, but for today, I will inform the Senate President that we have received a manifestation, and that would include that box of evidence that you mentioned. [2:15] So, when we get the process, paano po ba, sorry, ma-college sir, kasi hindi pa nagko-continue yung impeachment court, tas may manifestation na po sa inyong DIR box, kailangan po mag-convene muna sa impeachment court bago decision na yung pagbubukas ng box? [2:30] Again, there's no set and definite rule for that, but it's something that I would need to discuss with the Senate President, and I'm sure he would also consult the other members of the Senate on how to best address the issue of that box. [2:44] But on the process, pwede po bang ang position lang kay presiding officer? [2:49] I wouldn't want to hazard my personal opinion on that. [2:53] Pero, sir, paano yung marking court? [2:55] Ah, no, yun nga yung hinihiling sana nila, if the box can be open and the contents can be pre-marked. [3:04] So, paano siya inaguhin, sir, sa pre-trya? [3:07] Sa ngayon, if you ask Ms. Clerk of Court, sa akin, box pa rin lang siya. [3:11] Ah, because its opening and the pre-marking of its contents is something that would have to be decided by the impeachment court. [3:19] Whether they will decide before the convening or they will wait for the convening is an open question right now. [3:25] So, sir, kasama siya, dulo sa pre-trya na yun, yung hini lang bubuksan, pero mamarkahan yung box? [3:31] Ganon ba, sir, paano? [3:31] No, yung part of the manifestation of the prosecution. [3:34] They are proposing that. [3:37] Pero buksan? Pero sa ngayon, sir... [3:39] It's sealed. Sa ngayon, it's sealed. [3:41] Sa ngayon, it's sealed. Yeah. [3:41] Sa ngayon, siyang mamarkahan? [3:42] No, no, no. The present status is that we have a box. We have a box that is sealed. Its contents are known. [3:49] Now, in today's manifestation, the prosecution is asking that open it so that we can pre-mark its contents. [3:56] Now, the pre-trial conference cannot decide on that. As clerk of court, I cannot decide on that. [4:02] It's a matter that only the impeachment court can decide on. [4:05] But the court is matapos kayo for tomorrow. So, aabot pa ba sa marking of evidence? [4:10] Hindi naman siya magiging ganon ka-determinative or prejudicial sa conduct of the pre-trial conference. [4:16] To me, it's something that can be resolved by the court caterer. [4:20] Sir, part of, is ano pre-trial free? [4:23] Based on memory and from what I've read, I think so. It's part of a certain reservation. [4:30] I may be wrong at this point, but I'm just answer it from memory. [4:33] No, no, no, no, no. [4:35] I think prosecution. [4:37] So, pwedeng matapos si pre-trial conferencing nang hindi na mamarkahan tong BIR box? [4:43] That's my personal view. [4:44] Pwede? [4:44] That's my personal view. [4:45] Pero sir, hindi na prosecution is pre-trial daw? [4:48] Yes. [4:49] Yes, yes. [4:50] Pero sir, in the dati ba, nag-approved na impeachment court na hindi sila nanggo on it? [4:55] Are you paying it? [4:55] Ah, ngayon, wala kong ma-recall. [5:00] But there may have been instances like request for subpina that was made before the start of the trial, the first trial date. [5:11] Baka meron. [5:12] If hindi siya mamarkahan, sir, banyari matapos na pre-trial conference, walang decision ng impeachment court sa manifestation, kayaan po siya mamarkahan as evidence yung naman ng BIR? [5:22] That will now depend on the motion that will be made by the prosecution during trial proper. [5:28] If a decision is not reached at this point. [5:32] So, trial proper? [5:33] Yeah, that's possible. [5:34] That's possible. [5:35] Pero sir, yung box mismo ay mamarkahan as exhibit the box percent? Mamarkahan ba siya as exhibit? [5:43] Hindi, yun nga. Balikan ko, based on the manifestation that was filed kanina, the prosecution is asking that that box be unsealed [5:52] and its contents be pre-marked. [5:56] Ayong content? [5:56] Ah, yeah, yeah. [5:57] So, pag walang decision, seg, paano yung box? Paano siya ituturing ng impeachment court yung box? Is it a part of the exhibit? [6:05] Sa impeachment trial, yung box lang? [6:07] Sa ngayon, hindi pa. I mean, kung wala pang decision, then it remains as a box. Yes, yes. [6:13] Until the impeachment court decides on it, it's not a part of the evidence? [6:17] Not yet, not yet, not yet. [6:18] Pero sir, kung part siya ng pre-trial brief, at hindi pa siya na mamagahan, pwede pa rin siyang kasalang sa trial proper? [6:25] Yes, yes. Pwede naman. [6:27] Paano pag hindi ka na mamangit sa pre-trial order? Will it be included sa pre-trial order kung hindi pa po siya mamagahan? [6:33] Again, that's a matter for the court to decide on, but I will not rule out the possibility that somehow it will be addressed in the pre-trial order. [6:42] Sir, kasi di ba iba naman yung marking ng evidence sa formal offer of evidence? [6:46] Oh, yeah. Magkaiba naman yun. The formal offer will come in. [6:49] And that will be, that is when it is decided, doon madidesisyonan kung tatanggapin ng court yung evidence na yun as evidence? [6:56] Yeah. [6:57] Para ganun, yeah. [6:58] Yes. [6:58] Yes. [7:00] Ito naman pre-marking lang naman yung pre-marking. [7:03] So wala pang ruling dito? [7:04] Wala pang. [7:05] The merits of the evidence? [7:06] In fact, in the notice of the pre-trial conference, it's quite clear naman that what they're doing is actually just pre-marking, [7:12] which is just a physical marking of all pieces of evidence that each party would want to present during the trial proper. [7:19] So, hindi aabot sa bukas? Pwede yung mwede siyang markahan sa trial itself? [7:23] To me, yes. But again, I wouldn't want to pre-empt any decision that will be made by the impeachment court. [7:29] So, then, paano kung hindi pa natapos yung pre-trial bukas? [7:32] Magkakaroon ng Friday, Saturday, paano yung mwede? [7:34] I will pray. [7:36] No, no, no. I'm hoping matapos bukas. [7:40] Worst case, we finish on Friday. [7:42] Sabi ko kanina, ang ano ko sana is that at least sana masave ko yung Saturday for housekeeping, no? [7:50] Meaning, court management matters. [7:53] Because there are also some other matters that would need the attention of the impeachment court, no? [7:58] Aside from the pre-trial conference. [8:00] Can we ask, can we ask for a, parang how do you, as the secretary, as a clerk, how do you manage the two camps na, syempre? [8:07] May mga reports po kasi na kakataasan ng boses, may mga kinakain po. [8:13] Hindi, di ba sabi ko, wala naman yun, wala naman. [8:15] Hindi, lang mo daw wala. [8:16] Both camps are very professional. [8:19] Ang dali naman kausap, nakakaintindihan kami. [8:22] Communication is very easy. [8:25] We all understand each other. [8:27] Ngayon yung sinasabi na, kung minsan nagkakakawin ng konting exchanges or sagotan. [8:33] That's normal. [8:35] Between lawyers, that's very usual. [8:38] May we know if na pag-usapan na, siyong sinong magpe-preside? [8:41] On impeachment trials, si S&Win, S&Win, S&Win, S&Win, S&Win? [8:44] At may level, wala pa. [8:46] At may level, ha. [8:49] Alright. [8:49] Thank you. [8:51] Thank you. [8:52] So, hanggang 7 p.m. [8:53] Kayo ha, naloloko niyo talaga. [8:55] Nabobola niyo talaga. [8:56] Hanggang 7 p.m., yes. [8:57] Ah, tumarun. [8:58] We're trying to save Saturdays from the order. [9:17] Yung order, yan nalala. [9:18] Ah, kasi upon the lease of the pre-trial order, each party is given three days to comment. [9:27] So, while July 6 is still the target, I mean, it's tight. [9:36] Ah, doable but tight. [9:38] Hindi pa siya impossible. [9:40] Sir, sir, sir, pwedeng pa-soundway to, okay na nalala. [9:43] Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. [9:45] Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. [9:46] Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. [9:47] Sige, sige. [9:47] Okay. [9:48] Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. [9:51] Just that, just that question, sir. [9:54] Hindi pa delayed yung July 6. [9:57] Yeah, July 6 is still July 6. [9:59] July 6 is still the date of the start of the trial proper of the impeachment case. [10:04] While it may be difficult on the part of the court, on the part of the staff, [10:10] at this point, July 6 as the start of the trial proper is not yet an impossibility. [10:17] Tight but not impossible. [10:20] Sir, when is the most na pwede yung mag-pre-trial conference [10:22] And how can you issue a pre-trial order that will not affect you on the streets? [10:28] Monday or Tuesday? [10:30] The pre-trial order. [10:32] So the pre-trial conference has to really be concluded this week? [10:37] Yes. This week, we said, finish or not finish, pass your paper. [10:44] Sir, just to explain... [10:46] Can both sides comment on the pre-trial order? [10:53] Yes. Based on the notice of pre-trial conference, each side is given three days to comment on the pre-trial order. [11:00] So if you have the pre-trial order by Monday, they have three days to call? [11:04] Yes. [11:06] Then July 6th is the pre-trial order? [11:08] Yes. July 6th is the pre-trial order. [11:10] The pre-trial order would end before July 6th. [11:15] Is it possible to still hold the trial? [11:20] We wouldn't want that to happen. [11:24] But definitely, sir, in pre-trial, do you need the pre-trial documents? [11:29] Yes. Whatever the council brings to the table will be marked. [11:33] Is it still July 6th? [11:39] Wala pa. There's no other date that is being discussed. It's still July 6th. [11:45] Alright. Thank you, sir. [11:46] Okay. [11:47] Thank you, sir. [11:48] Thank you, sir. [11:49] Thank you, sir. [11:50] Sige, inabalik ko na doon. [11:51] Okay? [11:52] Okay? [11:53] Okay. [11:54] Alikan na, alikan na. [11:55] Alikan na. [11:56] Alikan na. [11:57] Alikan na. [11:58] Alikan na. [11:59] Alikan na. [12:00] Alikan na. [12:01] Alikan na. [12:02] Alikan na. [12:03] Alikan na. [12:04] Alikan na. [12:05] Alikan na. [12:06] Alikan na. [12:07] Alikan na. [12:08] Alikan na. [12:09] Alikan na. [12:10] Alikan na. [12:11] Alikan na. [12:12] Alikan na. [12:17] Alikan na. [12:20] Alikan na. [12:21] Alikan na. [12:23] Alikan na. [12:24] Alikan na. [12:25] Alikan na. [12:26] Alikan na. [12:27] Alikan na. [12:28] Alikan na. [12:30] Alikan na. [12:31] Alikan na. [12:32] Alikan na. [12:33] Alikan na. [12:34] Alikan na. [12:35] Alikan na. [12:36] Alikan na. [12:37] Alikan na. [12:38] Thank you very much. [13:08] Thank you.