Impeachment Court spokesman Reginald Tongol clarified on Monday that the targeted December 16 verdict date for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte was merely an “administrative plotting or logistical projection” based on the court-approved pre-trial order.
In an interview, Tongol expressed appreciation for the clarifications provided by senator-judges regarding the target timeline, stressing that the date should not be treated as a rigid deadline given the court’s priority to protect the integrity of the proceedings and afford all parties ample opportunity to present their cases.
“Ang kanilang sinasabi lamang sa atin na ang ebidensiya ay hindi susunod doon sa kalendaryo. Ang kalendaryo ang susunod sa ebidensiya,” Tongol said. (What they are saying is that the evidence will not follow the calendar. The calendar will follow the evidence.)
Tongol underscored that the actual duration of the trial remains flexible and will depend entirely on the development of evidence presented before the tribunal.
“Kung makita ng impeachment court na kailangan ng mas mahabang paglatag ng mga ebidensiya, then mauuring pa yung date na yun. At kung ito naman ay nakita na maraming stipulations na nagawa at maraming dropping of witnesses at dropping of possible articles of impeachment, ito namang date na ito ay uurong nang mas maaga,” he added. (If the Impeachment Court sees that it needs more time to present the evidence, then the date will move back. And if the Court sees that there are many stipulations done, witnesses dropped, or possible articles of impeachment dropped, the date will move earlier.)
Tongol noted that he welcomed the guidance issued by the senator-judges to set expectations regarding the trial’s timeline.