Impeachment court issues new calendar for Sara Duterte trial

MANILA, Philippines – Amid the ongoing Senate budget deliberations and the passage of the upper chamber’s legislative agenda, the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday, September 8, issued a new schedule for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senators earlier agreed on adjustments in their work schedule primarily to achieve two goals: complete deliberations on the proposed 2027 budget on time and finish the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte before the end of the year.

They also agreed to suspend the Senate rules and allow the finance committee to hold budget hearings while the plenary session is ongoing. Under this, senators who are in budget hearings during the plenary session will still be marked present during the roll call.

Impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced the latest calendar for the trial as follows: 

September 14 to 30 (Monday to Wednesday)

• 10 am to 2:30 pm: Impeachment trial
• 3 pm onwards: Plenary sessions, budget hearings, and committee hearings for the legislative agenda

October 1 to 15 (all weekdays)

• 10 am to early evening

October 16 to November 8 (all weekdays)

• No trial to give way to budget deliberations and preparation of Senate version of the proposed 2027 budget

November 18

• Trial resumes at 10 am to 2:30 pm (but may also be held earlier than November 18)

November 23

• 10 am to 2:30 pm: Impeachment trial
• 3 pm onwards: Plenary sessions, budget hearings, and committee hearings for the legislative agenda

The senators earlier held a caucus on September 3, the same day that Senator Migz Zubiri raised the need for senators to agree on a work schedule adjustments that would allow them to allot time for budget deliberations alongside the impeachment trial and their normal work.

Zubiri said that without this schedule, it would not be possible for the Senate to finish deliberations on the proposed 2027 budget on time. It was also during his September 3 manifestation when he made a viral remark about the 12-hour workday of senators since the trial began, as sessions were being held after the trial ends in the afternoon.

“Sa totoo lang, Mr. President, pagod na pagod na ako. Twelve hours per day po tayo na nandito. From 9-9 nandito tayo,” he said, a remark that drew backlash online, with some netizens saying they, too, were tired from the grueling and low-wage realities faced by ordinary Filipino workers.

(Truth be told, Mr. President, I am very tired. We’re here 12 hours per day, from 9 am to 9 pm.)

In response to criticism of his remark, Zubiri later told reporters that he was just being “candid” and “honest.”

“Binanggit ko lang ang aking present condition at that time kasi napakahirap i-juggle ng tatlong napakalahagaang activities in Senate. It’s the first time na nangyari na nagkaroon ng impeachment, budget hearings, at legislative agenda,” he added.

(I just described my present condition at that time because it’s so difficult to juggle three important activities at the Senate. It’s the first time that we were holding the impeachment, budget hearings, and hearings for the legislative agenda simultaneously.)

The Senate is currently handling three major tasks: deliberations on the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, the ongoing impeachment trial of Duterte, and the passage of its legislative agenda. – Rappler.com