SEN. Francis Pangilinan on Saturday disputed the announced possibility of a Dec. 16 verdict in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the Senate impeachment court has yet to discuss or approve any timetable for the proceedings.
Pangilinan, one of the senator-judges, said the Dec. 16 date cited by impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol was only the spokesman’s personal assessment and did not represent an official decision of the court.
“The impeachment court has yet to formally or informally discuss this and has yet to decide on the timetable or timeline of the trial, much less a verdict date of Dec. 16,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
“This verdict date is merely the opinion of the spokesman. As senator-judge, I do not share the opinion of the spokesman. He has no authority to issue his personal opinions on the court’s behalf,” he added.
Tongol earlier said the trial could conclude before Congress goes on its holiday recess in the second week of December, with a verdict potentially coming as early as Dec. 16.
He attributed the accelerated timetable to the House prosecution’s decision to substantially reduce its list of witnesses, which had initially raised the possibility that the trial could continue into February or March.
The prosecution is expected to continue presenting witnesses next week in connection with Article II, which covers allegations concerning Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth, inaccurate declarations in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs), and alleged continued participation in business activities.
As many as two witnesses could testify each day from Monday through Friday, including officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, as well as representatives of banks and insurance companies.
The impeachment court has authorized the presentation of bank, AMLC, and BIR records relevant to the allegations, ruling that the documents were sufficiently relevant and material to the case.
The prosecution has already shortened its presentation by dropping 15 remaining witnesses for Article I, which involves allegations over the alleged misuse and misappropriation of P612.5 million in confidential funds. Prosecutors instead reserved the option of presenting Duterte herself.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV was also dropped from the prosecution’s witness list despite having been previously included.
Tongol said the trial could move faster if the prosecution decides not to pursue the article concerning alleged bribery of Department of Education officials during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary.
After the prosecution rests its case, the defense is expected to present Duterte’s witnesses and documentary evidence, followed by any rebuttal and surrebuttal that the court may allow before the senator-judges deliberate and vote.
The prosecution had earlier aimed to complete its presentation in October, with the defense expected to have several weeks to present its case.
For now, however, no verdict date has been set by the impeachment court, with the trial schedule remaining subject to the court’s rulings, witness presentations and other developments.
A conviction requires the constitutionally mandated two-thirds vote of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court, based on the senator-judges legally and factually capable of participating when judgment is rendered.
