The pre-trial conference of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte was formally concluded on the evening of June 25.

However, the box from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) containing the tax records of Vice President Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, remained sealed and unmarked.

Senate Secretary and Clerk of Court Atty. Renato Bantug Jr. declared the conference closed after the marking of evidence related to the Articles of Impeachment was completed.

"There are being no further matters at this stage, this pre-trial conference is hereby concluded," Bantug said.

Lead House Public Prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro said the prosecution had wanted the box opened to determine its exact contents.

"This is very relevant because we will be able to know to present before the impeachment court the lawful personal income of the respondent and the spouse, no, and by knowing their lawful income, eh, baka ma-justify nila yung mga acquisitions which will be seen also in the other documents of the prosecution, noh," Luistro said.

(This is very relevant because we will be able to know to present before the impeachment court the lawful personal income of the respondent and the spouse, and by knowing their lawful income, they might be able to justify their acquisitions which will be seen also in the other documents of the prosecution.)

However, the defense reportedly objected strongly to both the opening and the marking of the sealed box, invoking due process.

Luistro pushed back on the objection, saying no rights were being violated by the mere act of marking.

"But nevertheless, the defense registered their vehement objection to the opening. They invoke due process, kahit wala namang nalalabag na karapatan dito, because this is just a marking of exhibit. Ako nagtataka kung ano kayang nakakatakot sa pagmamarka ng seal box. Silyado nga ang pinamamarkahan ng prosecution because they do not want to open the box," she said.

(But nevertheless, the defense registered their vehement objection to the opening. They invoke due process, even though no right is being violated here, because this is just a marking of an exhibit. I wonder what is so frightening about marking a sealed box. It is the sealed box that the prosecution is marking, because they do not want to open the box.)

With the defense's objections on record, Luistro said the question of whether or not to open the BIR box will now be left to the impeachment court to decide.

"Ang pinamamarkahan na lang is yung sealed box, so that we will just be submitting to the impeachment court the issue of whether to open or not the BIR box. But sadly, they oppose the opening of the BIR box. They opposed as well the marking of the sealed BIR box," Luistro added.

(What is being marked now is just the sealed box, so that we will just be submitting to the impeachment court the issue of whether to open or not the BIR box. But sadly, they oppose the opening of the BIR box. They opposed as well the marking of the sealed BIR box.)

For the prosecutors, the contents of the box are considered crucial as these may contain information relevant to the allegations in the impeachment, including VP Duterte's alleged unexplained wealth.

‍