The Senate adjourned the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, with proceedings set to resume on November 19 after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
Senate President Francis Escudero, who presides over the impeachment court, announced the next hearing dates after Thursday's session was adjourned early following the defense team's decision to dispense with its final witness for the week.
“Our next trial date will already be on November 19 and 20 for the whole day,” Escudero said.
“Trial is adjourned until November 19, 2026, that’s a Thursday at 10 o’clock in the morning,” he added.
The suspension came after lead defense counsel Sheila Sison requested the cancellation of the Friday, Nov. 13, hearing, citing the ASEAN Summit and the declaration of holidays in connection with the regional gathering.
The defense team also had no witness scheduled to testify on Friday.
The team has opted to dispense with the testimonies of Bank of the Philippine Islands representative Paul Ysmael and Quezon City prosecutor Vimar Barcellano, who were originally scheduled to appear on Thursday.
The impeachment court will also suspend proceedings from November 16 to 18 due to holidays declared for the ASEAN Summit.
“Given the ASEAN meeting, we won’t have any trial on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week that 16, 17, 18,” Escudero said.
The Senate is expected to resume the proceedings on November 19, with hearings also scheduled for November 20.
