MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte could conclude before the end of 2026, Senate Presiding Officer Francis Escudero said Sunday, as the Senate prepares to hear the defense’s evidence when proceedings resume on Nov. 9.
Escudero said the defense’s pretrial brief listed more than 10 prospective witnesses, although the number could still increase or decrease.
“It’s possible, depending on how many witnesses the defense will present,” Escudero said in the 14th episode of his program Chiz Wiz: Usapang May Laman.
“It is possible that the number could increase, or it could decrease. We also don’t know how long the cross-examinations will take,” he added.
Escudero said that the duration of testimony varied from one witness to another, citing previous hearings in which some witnesses took several days to testify while others required only minutes.
“There are witnesses who take two or three days. There are witnesses who take half a day, and there are witnesses who take only 30 minutes, like those from the banks, because their testimony is brief,” he said.
“So it depends on how the proceedings unfold and on who the witnesses are," he added.
The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to resume proceedings on Nov. 9, when Duterte’s defense team is expected to begin presenting its evidence following the prosecution’s withdrawal of three of the four articles of impeachment against her.
With the prosecution dropping the articles concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery at the Department of Education and grave threats, the Senate will deliberate only on the remaining article involving alleged ill-gotten wealth.
He maintained that the prosecution could not be compelled to pursue charges it had chosen to abandon.
He added that the defense panel did not object when the impeachment court asked if it opposed the withdrawal.
Escudero said the next phase of the impeachment trial is important because the public would finally hear Duterte’s response to the allegations presented by the prosecution.
“The prosecution has finished, so when we return, the respondent will present her case. It will be the defense’s turn, and the roles will be reversed,” he said.
He said the Senate would apply the same evidentiary standards to the defense that it had applied to the prosecution.
“Whatever we did with the prosecution, we should also do with the defense to ensure fairness,” Escudero said.
“I am waiting for the defense to present its case before making a decision, and I hope every Filipino will also listen to the explanations of each senator-judge,” he added.
