Manila, June 9 -- The Senate impeachment court has formally scheduled the pre-trial conference in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, marking the next major step in the proceedings and setting the stage for the presentation of evidence and witnesses by both parties, House of Representatives prosecutor Terry Ridon of the Bicol Saro Party-list said Tuesday.

In a Notice of Pre-Trial Conference issued on June 9 and signed by acting Senate President and Presiding Officer Sherwin Gatchalian, Ridon said the impeachment court directed Duterte and the House public prosecutors to appear on June 18 at 9 a.m. at the Senator C.M. Recto Room in the Senate.

In a news release, Ridon disclosed that the notice stated that the parti...