The Senate Impeachment Court is looking to speed up the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian saying the proceedings could potentially conclude by mid- to late November if the court maintains its accelerated schedule. Speaking in an interview with Radio DZBB on Sunday, Oct. 4, Sen. Gatchalian said the…
Senate Accelerates VP Duterte Impeachment Trial, Eyes November Completion
The Senate Impeachment Court is looking to speed up the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian saying the proceedings could potentially conclude by mid- to late November if the court maintains its accelerated schedule.
Speaking in an interview with Radio DZBB on Sunday, Oct. 4, Sen. Gatchalian said the Senate plans to maximize the coming trial days by holding full-day proceedings whenever possible.
The Senate chief said the court could first complete Article 2, which involves allegations of unexplained wealth, before proceeding to the next article concerning bribery allegations. The defense would then present its side.
Sen. Gatchalian estimated that the proceedings could take approximately 30 to 45 days, although he stressed that the estimate could change depending on developments during the trial.
The number of witnesses remains a key factor in determining the timeline.
Sen. Gatchalian noted that several witnesses previously expected to testify have already been dropped by the prosecution panel, potentially shortening the proceedings.
The Senate is also set to utilize 11 full trial days, which Sen. Gatchalian said could allow the court to hear from around two or three witnesses per day and make substantial progress.
“If possible, we will dedicate full days to the impeachment proceedings,” Sen. Gatchalian said, adding that the schedule remains flexible and can be adjusted as the trial progresses.
The impeachment court had earlier projected that the proceedings could continue until February or early March 2027, based on the number of trial days requested by both the House prosecution panel and the defense.
However, impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reggie Tongol later said the court is now more confident of meeting its December target.
While Sen. Gatchalian is hoping for a November conclusion, the final timeline remains dependent on the number of witnesses, the pace of hearings, and developments during the trial.