MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo said the Senate was targeting July 6 for the start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte following discussions held during an all-members caucus after Tuesday’s session.
In an interview on Thursday, Tulfo outlined the tentative timeline and proposed schedule for the proceedings, saying senators are preparing for an intensive trial calendar that could extend late into the evening.
According to Tulfo, the Senate president will first grant Duterte’s camp 10 days to respond to the articles of impeachment, after which the prosecution panel will be given five calendar days to file its reply.
“After the Senate President gives 10 days to VP Sara’s camp, the prosecution also needs to respond, five calendar days. And then we will move on to the pre-trial,” Tulfo said.
The senator said that the pre-trial phase would involve the marking of evidence, submission of statements, and other procedural matters ahead of the formal hearings.
“It seems like the trial will actually start on July 6 after our break,” he added.
Tulfo said senators were considering a schedule that would allow the chamber to continue its legislative work while conducting the impeachment proceedings. Under the proposed arrangement, Senate sessions would be held in the morning, followed by impeachment hearings in the afternoon and evening.
“The plan, if I remember correctly, is that every Monday morning, we will have a session so that we don’t run out of time,” Tulfo said. “We have a session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., then after a one-hour break, we go straight to the trial from 2 p.m. until the end — maybe until 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.”
