Duterte impeachment trial may end in November if defense presents in 10 full days — Luistro

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial may end in November if the defense presents its case for the lone remaining article within 10 full trial days, lead House prosecutor Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said. 

Luistro explained the prosecution expects the defense to request 10 full trial dates to present its evidence on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth, the sole article remaining after the prosecution dropped the three articles on Duterte’s alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., confidential funds misuse, and bribery of Department of Education officials.

She said the defense previously requested 30 full trial days for its presentation on the four original articles. 

The prosecution chief however acknowledged that the proceedings may spill over into December if the defense requires more time.

The senator-judges would also need to consider the completed trial record before reaching a verdict, she said. 

“But at any rate, we are all hoping and praying na sana naman bago mag-Pasko ay tapos na ang impeachment trial na ito para magkaroon tayo ng closure, and we can all move on,” Luistro said. 

(We are hoping and praying that the impeachment trial will be done before Christmas so we can have closure and we can all move on.)

The Senate impeachment court is set to return to a full-week schedule when it resumes trial in November.

It will resume on November 9 at 10 a.m. and will end early afternoon before the Senate convenes as a legislative body, presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero has announced.

It will proceed for the whole day on November 10, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The November 11 trial will be from 10 a.m. until early afternoon, with a Senate plenary session scheduled in the afternoon. 

November 12, 13, 19 and 20 will also see full-day trial proceedings, while November 23 is set for a 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. trial. 

November 30 is a holiday.

Escudero said the court will decide on its schedule for December “hopefully” at the beginning of November, depending on the number of trial dates the defense will request.