Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team is scheduled to begin presenting its case in her impeachment trial on Nov. 9, following the Senate’s break, Senate President Win Gatchalian said.
“Today is the last day, ngayong araw [Oct. 13], at pag-uusapan naman ang schedule ng defense. Nakatakdang mag-present ang defense ng November 9, pagbalik namin. Tuloy-tuloy na ’yan hanggang matapos na,” Gatchalian said on Tuesday.
The schedule adjustment has also pushed back the Senate’s timeline for deliberating on the proposed national budget for 2027.
Gatchalian said the Senate is now targeting to pass its version of the budget in the last week of November or the first week of December, as the impeachment proceedings have taken longer than expected.
“Ang target namin ay last week of November to first week of December, ’yun ang target. Gumalaw siya kasi humaba yung impeachment,” he said.
The Senate had initially planned to begin plenary debates on the proposed budget on Nov. 9. However, lawmakers decided to move the start of the debates to the end of November to give Duterte’s defense panel time to present its case.
“Dapat nga nag-uumpisa na kami ng plenary debates by November 9, pero itinulak muna namin ito until end of November para magbigay ng daan para makapag-present na ang defense,” Gatchalian said.
The Senate is expected to continue hearing the impeachment case once proceedings resume, with the defense presentation set to begin on Nov. 9 and continue until completed.
