The House prosecution panel is prepared to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 6 even without access to the disputed box containing tax records, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said on Monday.

Speaking on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Diokno said prosecutors remain confident in their case as they await the impeachment court’s ruling on their motion to open and mark the contents of the box, which is believed to contain income tax returns from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) related to Duterte and her husband.

Diokno said the box originated from the BIR and was earlier sought through a subpoena during proceedings at the House Committee on Justice.

He stressed, however, that the case does not hinge on whether the box is opened.

“Kung hindi naman yan mabuksan, may mga iba naman paraan para mapatunayan yon,” Diokno said, adding that the motion to examine its contents is now under the jurisdiction of the impeachment court.

Despite the uncertainty, Diokno said the prosecution is confident it has sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.

“We are ready. Hindi rin kami mag-file ng kaso kung hindi naman kami may kumpiyansa na kaya namin patunayan niyo,” he said.

Diokno also said the length of the impeachment trial remains uncertain, though it could take several months based on pre-trial submissions.

He added that the schedule will ultimately depend on the impeachment court, which has the authority to set the number of trial days for both the prosecution and defense.

“Sa tingin ko, magkakalinawan po yan pag naupo na ang impeachment court at nasa kanilang kapangyarihan na sabihin sa magkabilang panel kung ano ba ang ilang araw ba, ilang trial dates ang bibigay sa amin at sa defense para magpresenta ng ebidensya.”

Under Senate impeachment rules, both sides must first complete the presentation of their evidence before any voting takes place.

Senators will then vote on each article of impeachment individually at the end of the trial.