The Senate stepped up security preparations inside and outside the Senate complex ahead of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 6.
To ensure a safe and orderly conduct of the historic proceedings, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian led an interagency security coordinating conference, bringing together key government agencies tasked with maintaining security, intelligence, traffic management, and public order throughout the trial.
Among those who attended the meeting were representatives from the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), the House of Representatives Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and the Pasay City local government.
The coordinated security plan comes as authorities expect a large number of people to converge at the Senate on the opening day of the trial.
Aside from members of the prosecution and defense panels, a significant turnout of journalists is anticipated to provide extensive coverage of the proceedings. Civil society organizations, invited guests, and members of the public interested in observing the impeachment trial are also expected to gather at the Senate.
As part of heightened security measures, access to the Senate compound has been tightened. Earlier in the day, vehicles and motorcycles belonging to Senate employees and members of the media without the newly issued Senate vehicle stickers were temporarily denied entry, although security instructions were later adjusted before noon.
The impeachment trial is expected to span several months. Based on the proposed schedule, the prosecution has requested 62 trial days, while the defense has sought 30 trial days. If approved by the Senate impeachment court, the proceedings could last up to seven months, making it one of the longest and most closely watched impeachment trials in recent Philippine history.
Authorities said the interagency coordination aims to ensure that the impeachment proceedings are conducted in a secure, orderly, and uninterrupted environment while safeguarding the safety of lawmakers, court participants, media personnel, and the public.
