MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial is likely to extend into December as the Senate prepares to accommodate both the defense’s presentation of evidence and deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget, according to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday.
In a chance interview at the Senate, Gatchalian told reporters, “Parang hindi na kaya ng November from the looks of it. So I’m sure, tingin ko tatawid ito ng December (It looks like we can no longer finish by November. I think the proceedings will extend into December).”
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The Senate President said the defense has yet to present its evidence and witnesses, making it premature to speculate on the outcome of the proceedings or discuss possible next steps.
“To be fair sa respondent, di pa na-present ang defense yung kanilang ebidensya at testimony so pakinggan muna natin (To be fair to the respondent, the defense has yet to present its evidence and testimony, so we should hear them first),” he said.
Gatchalian also dismissed suggestions that the defense would need only eight days to complete its presentation, saying he had no information about such an arrangement.
He stressed that the defense should determine the evidence and testimony it intends to present.
The impeachment trial is scheduled to resume on Nov. 9, with the defense taking its turn after the prosecution rested its case on Oct. 15.
The proceedings now center on the remaining impeachment charge involving allegations of unexplained wealth, following the Senate impeachment court’s acceptance of the prosecution’s withdrawal of three other articles.
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Meanwhile, Gatchalian acknowledged that balancing the impeachment proceedings with the Senate’s budget deliberations would be challenging, particularly as lawmakers race to approve the 2027 spending measure before year-end.
Under the tentative arrangement, the Senate will initially prioritize the impeachment trial before suspending proceedings for about one to two weeks to conduct plenary budget deliberations.
The chamber may then resume the impeachment trial if the defense has not completed its presentation.
Gatchalian said he is coordinating with Senate finance committee chairperson Senator JV Ejercito to finalize the legislative calendar and avoid unnecessary delays.
Asked about possible succession to the vice presidency, Gatchalian declined to discuss the matter while the impeachment case remains unresolved.
“Tapusin muna natin yung impeachment (Let us finish the impeachment first) before we talk about that,” he said. (PNA)
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