Impeachment court targets verdict by December 16
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court is eyeing to hand down a final verdict in the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte by Dec. 16, running ahead of schedule despite two session cancellations this week.
Court spokesman Reginald Tongol announced yesterday that the impeachment court has advanced anywhere from 20 to 27 days ahead of its initial calendar, drastically shortening a process originally expected to drag on until February or March 2027.
Tongol said House prosecutors could finish presenting their evidence for Article II or ill-gotten wealth and potentially conclude their entire case if they drop Article III or bribery by the end of next week.
“Now, with the way the impeachment trial is going on, our impeachment court’s confidence is stronger that this will be finished before Senate goes on holiday recess,” he said in a virtual press briefing.
“So by Dec. 16 we will have a final verdict,” he added.
The accelerated timeline stems from the prosecution panel’s decision to drop several witnesses from their original list.
For Article II, which tackles the Vice President’s alleged unexplained wealth, prosecutors have used eight of their allocated 12 days and have four days left to present their remaining witnesses, which include representatives from banks, insurance firms, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Tongol said the prosecution might be done with Article II by Thursday or Friday next week if they decide not to add more witnesses or testimonies.
Once the prosecution rests, they will file a formal offer of documentary exhibits before the defense panel opens its 30-day presentation of evidence, he said.
The court expects the defense to streamline its witness lineup in a similar manner.
Tongol also ruled out scheduling make-up hearings after Oct. 15 to compensate for this week’s cancellations, pointing out that the legislative calendar leaves no room for adjustments.
He noted that senators would devote the upcoming legislative recess to budget deliberations alongside the country’s hosting of the ASEAN Summit.
The impeachment trial will take a recess after Oct. 15 and is slated to resume on Nov. 23.
The defense team defended its granted manifestation to postpone the prosecution’s presentation of its AMLC witness who is expected to testify on the P6.7 billion in transactions linked to the bank accounts of Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio.
Defense spokesman Michael Poa maintained that they needed time to review the documents submitted by the AMLC.
“We are also grateful for the understanding of our presiding officer (Sen. Francis Escudero) because of course we only got the summary… because it’s new and we really need to look into that. There are details there that we feel that we need to look into. So, it’s a really big deal… And we do not deny that we were the ones who requested if we could be given time. Not just for cross-examination,” Poa said at a press conference on Thursday.
The impeachment court canceled its whole-day proceedings for Thursday to give the defense enough time to prepare for the testimony of AMLC executive director Ronel Buenaventura. — Bella Cariaso
abtestabtest Kapunan: Senate should remain ‘safe space’ after Tulfo’s ‘pa-cute’ remark By Kristine Daguno-Bersamina | 1 day ago House prosecutors responded after Raffy Tulfo criticized a lawyer’s conduct during the Sara Duterte trial. Headlines Loren may rejoin Senate majority – spokesman By Neil Jayson Servallos | 16 hours ago The camp of Sen. Loren Legarda is not ruling out the possibility of the lawmaker returning to the country and joining the majority bloc, saying shifting alliances is a regular feature of the upper chamber’s... Headlines NBI invites VP over ex-cop’s cash delivery claim By Mark Ernest Villeza | 16 hours ago The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will invite Vice President Sara Duterte to answer allegations of dismissed police... Headlines Baste: I would have blocked GenCorp deals By Daphne Galvez | 3 days ago Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte faced the Senate impeachment court yesterday as a hostile witness,... Headlines Latest More in Headlines Sara Duterte camp hits Trillanes over ‘desperate, tired narratives’ ICC allows prior testimony of witness in Rodrigo Duterte case Dec. 16 verdict date for Sara Duterte not set by impeachment court — Pangilinan Viral anti-vax posts weaponize Philippine inoculation fears abtest ‘Funds from China, drug lord went to Dutertes’ By Mark Ernest Villeza | 16 hours ago About P319 million in funds from Chinese government and corporate sources entered businesses and a foundation linked to the... Headlines President Marcos inspects PICC ahead of November Asean summit By Helen Flores | 16 hours ago President Marcos yesterday led a walkthrough of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, one of... Headlines DENR heightens measures vs El Niño By Josiah Antonio | 16 hours ago The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has strengthened its mitigation measures against the ongoing El Ni&n... Headlines DFA rejects China claim over waters off Batanes By Michael Punongbayan | 16 hours ago The Department of Foreign Affairs “firmly and strongly” rejected yesterday the Chinese embassy’s assertion... Headlines Suspension of China exports to drive up fuel prices By Brix Lelis | 16 hours ago Fuel prices are seen to rise in October after China announced that it will suspend its exports of refined products to the... Headlines Recommended Trillanes, dismayado sa paghawak ni Chiz sa VP Sara trial 16 hours ago Ikinadismaya ni dating Senador Antonio Trillanes IV ang paghawak ni Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz”... HeadlinesANTONIO TRILLANES IV SC: Petisyon vs session na nagluklok kay Gatchalian, ibinasura 16 hours ago Ibinasura ng Korte Suprema ang petisyong kumukuwestiyon sa pagkakabuo ng bagong mayorya sa Senado noong June 3, na dinaluhan... HeadlinesSHERWIN GATCHALIAN Hatol kay VP Sara, posibleng ilabas sa Disyembre 16 16 hours ago Posibleng ilabas sa Disyembre 16,2026 ang hatol ng Senate impeachment court kay Vice President Sara Duterte. HeadlinesSARA DUTERTE Pagtanggap ni VP Sara ng pera mula sa China, pagtataksil sa bayan – Malacañang October 3, 2026 - 12:00am Maituturing na “pagtataksil sa bayan” (act of treason) kung mapapatunayang totoo ang mga alegasyon na tumanggap ng pondo mula sa gobyerno ng China si Vice President Sara Duterte kung mapatunayan...r HeadlinesCHINA EDITORYAL - Nakaalis na ang iimbestigahan October 3, 2026 - 12:00am Nasa labas na ng bansa si dating House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco habang iniimbestigahan ng National Bureau of Investigation ang mga alegasyon ng dati niyang security aide na si Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. Ayon kay...r HeadlinesLORD ALLAN VELASCO next Recommended Trillanes, dismayado sa paghawak ni Chiz sa VP Sara trial Ikinadismaya ni dating Senador Antonio Trillanes IV ang paghawak ni Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero dahil sa mahigpit nitong pagpapatupad ng mga proseso sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte. 16 hours ago ANTONIO TRILLANES IV SC: Petisyon vs session na nagluklok kay Gatchalian, ibinasura Ibinasura ng Korte Suprema ang petisyong kumukuwestiyon sa pagkakabuo ng bagong mayorya sa Senado noong June 3, na dinaluhan ng 12 senador, nagdeklara ng bakante ang lahat ng posisyon, at inihalal si Senator Sherwin Gatchalian na bagong Senate President Pro Tempore. 16 hours ago SHERWIN GATCHALIAN Hatol kay VP Sara, posibleng ilabas sa Disyembre 16 Posibleng ilabas sa Disyembre 16,2026 ang hatol ng Senate impeachment court kay Vice President Sara Duterte. 16 hours ago SARA DUTERTE Pagtanggap ni VP Sara ng pera mula sa China, pagtataksil sa bayan – Malacañang Maituturing na “pagtataksil sa bayan” (act of treason) kung mapapatunayang totoo ang mga alegasyon na tumanggap ng pondo mula sa gobyerno ng China si Vice President Sara Duterte kung mapatunayan ang mga ibinunyag ni dating Senador Antonio Trillanes IV sa isang press conference, kahapon. 16 hours ago CHINA EDITORYAL - Nakaalis na ang iimbestigahan Nasa labas na ng bansa si dating House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco habang iniimbestigahan ng National Bureau of Investigation ang mga alegasyon ng dati niyang security aide na si Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. Ayon kay Gracioso, nagdeliber siya ng male-maletang pera kay Vice President Sara Duterte at miyembro ng pamilya nito sa utos ni Velasco. 16 hours ago LORD ALLAN VELASCO OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!
