Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio, ABS-CBN News

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Attorney Michael Poa, Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal counsel, said discussions during the pre-trial conference on Thursday for Duterte’s impeachment trial were not tense and they were able to reach a good resolution with the prosecution panel.This was after some House prosecutors, including Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, left the Recto Room at the Senate where the pre-trial conference was being held to meet in another room.Poa said they had a separate meeting to speed up proceedings.“Maganda naman ang naging resolution. So of course, we&#x27;d like to thank also the prosecution panel. So at least maganda ‘yung naging agreements namin. At napabilis naman natin ‘yung proseso. Hopefully this afternoon, we&#x27;ll move forward to marking,” Poa told reporters as the pre-trial conference went on break.Poa added, they agreed to submit comments on proposed stipulations by Monday.But when asked about any tension during the pre-trial conference, private prosecutor Attorney Lorna Kapunan said she was on her period and had a short temper.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/18/sara-duterte-impeachment-pre-trial-conference-starts-0946">Sara Duterte impeachment pre-trial conference starts </a></div>Pre-trial conferences include the stipulation of facts and simplification of issues, marking of documentary evidence and waiver of objections or admission of evidence, identification of witnesses, and setting of trial dates As the defense and prosecution met in the Senate, a large number of police personnel were deployed outside the compound.Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Alfred Corpus said the deployment may be because of the pre-trial conference.“Baka nag-a-anticipate lang siguro sila just in case,” Corpus told the media, adding the police told him that they were not expecting protests at the Senate.He also confirmed that the upper chamber is still under heightened security over information from the National Bureau of Investigation of a potential threat to the Senate.“I think we&#x27;re going to talk about it tomorrow or this weekend. We&#x27;ll have an assessment of the environment. And then from there, we&#x27;ll look kung we can tone down the alert level,” Corpus said, adding he will discuss this with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

Attorney Michael Poa, Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal counsel, said discussions during the pre-trial conference on Thursday for Duterte’s impeachment trial were not tense and they were able to reach a good resolution with the prosecution panel.

Attorney Michael Poa, Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal counsel, said discussions during the pre-trial conference on Thursday for Duterte’s impeachment trial were not tense and they were able to reach a good resolution with the prosecution panel.

‘Hindi naman nagkainitan’: Poa says pre-trial conference on impeachment going well

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‘Hindi naman nagkainitan’: Poa says pre-trial conference on impeachment going well

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 18, 2026 03:41 PM PHT

Read More:

Michael Poa

Senate

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

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