Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial may begin on July 6, weeks before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address, according to Senator Erwin Tulfo.
Tulfo said senators were given a proposed schedule during a caucus called by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
“Nagbigay na po ng schedule kahapon, nagpatawag po ng caucus po of all members si SP Cayetano at July 6 po ang umpisa nung ika nga impeachment trial,” Tulfo said in a television interview on Thursday morning, May 21.
[Translation: A schedule was presented yesterday. Senate President Cayetano called for a caucus of all members and the impeachment trial is set to begin on July 6.]
Tulfo said the Senate plans to hold regular morning sessions before proceeding with impeachment hearings in the afternoon until evening from Monday to Wednesday.
“Monday po may session kami sa umaga, 10:00 to 1:00 at pagkatapos po noon 2 o’clock to sawa ng Monday, eh yun ang impeachment trial,” he said.
[Translation: On Mondays, we will have a session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., then from 2 p.m. onward the impeachment trial will proceed.]
“Tuesday, Wednesday, ganun din po — 3 o’clock po mag-uumpisa ng hapon hanggang gabi. And then Thursday, puro session lang po,” he added.
[Translation: Tuesday and Wednesday will be the same, starting at 3 p.m. until evening, while Thursday will be dedicated to regular session.]
The Senate impeachment court earlier issued a writ of summons ordering Duterte to answer the Articles of Impeachment within 10 days.
Tulfo said the prosecution panel would then be given five calendar days to respond before the court moves to pre-trial proceedings.
“After po magbigay ng 10 days sa kampo po ni VP Sara… kailangan po sumagot din po yung prosecution, 5 calendar days,” Tulfo said in a separate radio interview.
[Translation: After giving Vice President Sara’s camp 10 days, the prosecution will also have to respond within five calendar days.]
“At pagkatapos we will move on na po sa mga pre-trial. Ito po yung mga marking of the pieces of evidence na matatanggap, statements, etcetera,” he added.
[Translation: After that, we will move on to pre-trial proceedings involving the marking of evidence, statements, and related matters.]
Tulfo said the actual impeachment trial is expected to start after the Senate’s sine die break and may unfold before the President delivers his SONA.
“Parang lumalabas po pre-SONA, ang mangyayari po,” Tulfo said.
[Translation: It appears the proceedings will happen before the SONA.]
