Lacson says most senator-judges agree on afternoon impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Saturday said that the majority of the senator-judges in the Senate majority had proposed to change the time of the impeachment proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte in the afternoon.

Lacson said that the Senate majority had discussed and proposed to hold the impeachment trial in the afternoon–from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.–from Monday to Wednesday, to allow the proceedings to continue without interruptions.

At the same time, the Senate’s regular plenary session may be held during the morning, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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“Sa aming chat group na-discuss yan, majority sa amin, at least sa majority group, yung aming  chat group majority lang, ‘yan ang nag dodonominate na sentimento na opinyon. Na gawin nating umaga ang session, nang sa ganon, ‘di nacu-cut short yung impeachment trial,” he explained at DWIZ radio.

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(That was discussed in our chat group; among the majority of us—or at least within that specific chat group—that was the prevailing sentiment or opinion, that we should hold the session in the morning so that the impeachment trial wouldn’t be cut short.)

READ: Senate yet to decide on session, impeachment trial schedules

Lacson said that the proposed afternoon session for Duterte’s impeachment trial would be more practical as there will be less pressure to strictly adjourn. 

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian had earlier mentioned in a radio interview that there was already a consensus on the proposal to swap the schedule of legislative sessions and the impeachment trial following calls to hasten the proceedings.

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However, the proposed changes are not expected next week, Gatchalian afterwards told the Inquirer in a message.

Lacson said that once the proposed afternoon schedule is consulted to the minority group and formalized, the announcement is likely to be made on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

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In the meantime, the scheduled impeachment trial on Monday, Aug. 24, would remain in the morning, which is at 10 a.m., he said.

“Definitely Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday next week umaga pa ang impeachment trial. Ngayon, ia-announce yan kung sakaling lilipat kami ng hapon ay sa Wednesday yan ia-announce,” he said.

(The impeachment trial will definitely be held in the morning next week—on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. As for any potential shift to the afternoon, that would be announced on Wednesday.)

Meanwhile, on the question whether the impeachment trial could wrap up before the end of the year, Lacson expressed that the proceedings may not be finished by December.

“Sa tingin ko hindi yan matatapos ng December, remember nasa pangalawang artikulo pa lang tayo at saka prosecution pa lang yan. Kasi pag natapos ang apat na artikulo, tsaka pa lang magprepresent ang depensa. Imagine we will go through again the same ordeal na nangyayari ngayon,” he said.

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(I don’t think that will wrap up by December. Remember, we are only on the second article, and that is just the prosecution’s side. Because once the four articles are finished, that is when the defense will present its case. Just imagine—we will go through the same ordeal we are experiencing now all over again.) /jpv