Manila, Nov. 10 -- The Senate impeachment court will not restrict the defense's witness presentation merely because their testimonies are repetitive, Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero said Tuesday, even as he expressed hope that Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial would conclude before Christmas.

In a chance interview before the resumption of proceedings, Escudero clarified that irrelevance, rather than repetition, would justify limiting the presentation of evidence.

"Not if it's repetitive. If it is irrelevant," Escudero said when asked whether the court could reduce the number of defense witnesses.

He explained that the same standard was applied during the prosecution's presentation, when the court restricted evid...