Senate leaders said Sunday the Senate impeachment court is studying ways to speed up the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which could take seven to eight months based on the initial presentation plans of both the prosecution and defense panels.
In a radio interview, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the prosecution has asked for at least 62 trial days to present its case, while the defense has requested around 30 days to present its evidence.
Since the impeachment court is expected to conduct trial proceedings on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, with Thursdays and Fridays reserved for pleadings, memoranda, and other matters related to the case, Gatchalian said the process could extend until early next year.
“Actually, ang tantsa namin, mga seven to eight months ang impeachment trial. Kung mag-uumpisa tayo ng July, baka next February na tayo matatapos,” Gatchalian said.
He said the Senate will consult both camps on possible ways to shorten the proceedings, including presenting more witnesses in a single trial day or reducing the number of witnesses.
“Of course, kokonsultahin natin ang prosecution and defense kung paano mapaiksi yung proseso at kung meron pang mga testigo na puwedeng gawin sa isang araw o paiksiin na lang yung bilang ng testigo,” he said.
Gatchalian said the volume of evidence could also affect the pace of the trial, noting that around 10,000 pieces of evidence have been marked.
“Imagine kung ipe-present mo yung 10,000, katakot-takot yan,” he said.
He added that the trial could take longer if new testimony or evidence emerges during the proceedings, as senator-judges would need time to study the details before rendering judgment.
The impeachment court is scheduled to begin the trial proper on July 6.
Gatchalian also said he would not preempt how the court would handle voting if fewer than 24 senators can participate in the proceedings, saying the matter has not been formally raised before the court.
He said the impeachment court may also have to resolve the prosecution’s request to open the box containing the income tax records of Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, which was earlier submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue to the House Committee on Justice.
The prosecution has asked the impeachment court to allow the opening of the so-called BIR box so its contents can be inventoried and marked as evidence. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug, who also serves as clerk of the impeachment court, said the matter should be decided by the court itself.
The Senate President said the court will study the prosecution’s manifestation.
“So, impeachment court na ang magde-desisyon kung yan ay bubuksan at kung kailan siya bubuksan,” he said.
He added that the documents may be offered by the prosecution in connection with the Article of Impeachment on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth, after which the impeachment court would decide on their admissibility.
Gatchalian also urged senator-judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers to avoid publicly discussing the merits of the case.
“Yung schedule puwedeng sabihin ninyo, pero yung content ng kaso nila, huwag silang magsasalita tungkol doon,” he said.
Aside from the impeachment trial, he said the Senate must also act on around 50 priority bills identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) this year.
He said senators will also have to prepare for deliberations on the proposed national budget, which is expected to reach the chamber in August.
Among the measures senators want to prioritize are proposals on the minimum age of criminal liability, restrictions on social media use for those aged 16 and below, party-list system reforms, and the anti-political dynasty bill.
He also said the anti-political dynasty measure is expected to face a difficult bicameral conference committee process because of major differences between the Senate and House versions.
“Alam ko magiging madugo pagdating sa bicam kasi ang layo ng Senate version, ang layo ng House version. Pero yan ay nasa LEDAC so itutulak natin hanggang maipasa yan,” he said.