MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian on Wednesday mentioned the Senate impeachment courtroom might end Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial and maintain the vote by December, below a revised schedule that might velocity up proceedings after prosecutors took 15 witnesses off their listing.
“Hopefully, we will end earlier than December,” Gatchalian instructed reporters. “With verdict, with verdict….that’s our goal with the brand new timetable. We’re hoping to complete [the trial] by December.”
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment courtroom, adopted a brand new schedule on Tuesday to raised handle the chamber’s time whereas it additionally holds common periods and deliberates on the draft 2027 nationwide funds.
“As you’ll be able to see, the timetable modifications, relying on the prosecution and the protection, relying on who they current,” he mentioned.
READ: Highlights: Day 23 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 8, 2026
It was a “large deal,” he mentioned, that the prosecution determined to drop its remaining 15 witnesses for Article 1, which accuses Duterte of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds below the Workplace of the Vice President (OVP) and the Division of Training (DepEd).
The prosecution initially listed 27 witnesses for the cost and had to date offered 12.
Beneath the revised schedule, the impeachment courtroom will maintain whole-day trials for not less than 10 days in October, with hearings beginning at 10 a.m.
READ: Impeachment trial: Palace leaves Sara Duterte subpoena name to Senate
Gatchalian mentioned the courtroom might be able to have two or three witnesses a day, “so [the proceedings] will likely be quite a bit sooner.”
Other than ending Article 1, the prosecution has accomplished its presentation for Article 4, which accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Structure and betrayal of public belief over alleged threats in opposition to President Marcos, first girl Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The prosecution is anticipated to maneuver to Article 2, regarding alleged unexplained wealth, on Sept. 14. The final will likely be Article 3, which accuses the Vice President of bribery.
‘Count on and sudden’
With its resolution to drop the 15 remaining Article 1 witnesses, the prosecution additionally served discover that it could quickly ask that Duterte herself be compelled to take the stand.
At Tuesday’s listening to, prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan instructed the impeachment courtroom that the panel would now not current the remaining Article 1 witnesses however reserved the precise to summon Duterte on the finish of its presentation of all of the articles.
‘Straight from horse’s mouth’
Some senator-judges shared the view that Duterte ought to finally face the courtroom and personally reply the allegations.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo mentioned the courtroom was the right venue for Duterte to current her protection, however “if she doesn’t need to, there’s nothing we will do. We can not subpoena her.”
Erwin’s brother, Sen. Raffy Tulfo, additionally mentioned that “Ideally, I’d need her to attend. It’s higher to listen to it straight from the horse’s mouth.”
He mentioned Duterte might reply questions that her OVP and DepEd subordinates may not be capable of deal with instantly.
2/3 vote threshold
The courtroom can also be taking on the decisive problem over the variety of votes wanted to convict. It’s set to revisit impeachment courtroom presiding officer Francis Escudero’s July 6 ruling that 16 votes, or two-thirds of all 24 senators, are required for conviction.
The dispute facilities on whether or not “all members”—as said within the Structure—means all 24 incumbent senators no matter their means to take part, or solely these legally ready to participate within the proceedings and remaining vote.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo, nevertheless, mentioned he most well-liked that the query be raised on the Supreme Court docket and let the excessive tribunal resolve “relatively than us.”
Sen. JV Ejercito additionally favored the identical route, however mentioned the impeachment courtroom may need to make the final word resolution if wanted.
The courtroom is anticipated to listen to on Sept. 16 the place of a number of authorized specialists on the matter, adopted by the prosecution and protection arguments on Sept. 23.
Gatchalian mentioned elevating the problem to the Supreme Court docket would possibly nonetheless “depend upon what the specialists or amici curiae will clarify.”
New VP spokesperson
In the meantime, the OVP on Wednesday introduced the appointment of lawyer Salvador Paolo Panelo Jr. as Duterte’s new spokesperson.
Panelo was additionally Duterte’s authorized counsel in reference to the a number of perjury complaints she filed in opposition to Ramil Madriaga, who earlier claimed to have served as her “bag man” or courier in delivering money allegedly drawn from her confidential funds.
Panelo’s father, Salvador, served as chief authorized counsel and spokesperson of then President Rodrigo Duterte, the Vice President’s father. —With a report from Isabelle Pechay
