The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio will likely be moved to the afternoon starting in September, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Saturday.
Lacson said the prevailing sentiment among members of the Senate majority bloc is to maximize the time for the impeachment trial by holding legislative sessions in the morning and moving the trial to the afternoon and potentially extending it into the evening.
“At least in the majority group, this is the dominating sentiment. We will hold legislative sessions in the morning so the impeachment trial would not be cut short. It is a more practical setup,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DWIZ radio.
In Filipino: Lacson: Impeachment Trial, Maaaring Ilipat sa Hapon Simula Setyembre
“To me, this is more practical. And my colleagues in the majority bloc share this sentiment,” he added.
Under the proposed setup, the regular Senate sessions may be held Mondays to Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the trial would start at 2:30 p.m. to at least 7:30 p.m.
Lacson said there is no pressure to end the proceedings strictly at 7:30 p.m., adding it could extend up to 10 or 11 p.m. if necessary.
He said this will be formalized in the senators’ caucus next week, where the minority bloc members will be consulted on the matter.
Lacson said that if the senators agree on the new schedule, it will likely be announced on Wednesday, Aug. 26, as announcements on trial schedules for the next week are usually made on Wednesdays, so the prosecution and defense will have enough time to prepare.
“If there are pressing matters on the legislative side, we can flip the schedule again if needed,” he said.
“Definitely next week, the impeachment trial will still be in the morning. If it will be moved to the afternoon the week after, it will be announced by the Presiding Officer on Wednesday,” he added.
At present, Lacson said he does not see the trial finishing by December, as the prosecution has not finished presenting the second of its four articles, after which the defense will still have to present its case.
*****
Lacson: Impeachment Trial, Maaaring Ilipat sa Hapon Simula Setyembre
Malamang na ilipat sa hapon ang impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio simula Setyembre, ayon kay Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Sabado.
Sinabi ni Lacson na nangingibabaw sa mga miyembro ng Senate majority bloc ang pananaw na sulitin ang oras para sa impeachment trial sa pamamagitan ng pagdaraos ng mga legislative session sa umaga at paglilipat ng trial sa hapon at posibleng pagpapahaba nito hanggang gabi.
“At least sa majority (bloc) group, yan ang nagdo-dominate na sentiment. Gawin natin umaga ang session para hindi naka-cut short ang impeachment trial.. Mas practical na ilipat namin ang session sa umaga at IT sa hapon,” ani Lacson sa isang panayam sa DWIZ radio.
“Sa akin mas practical yan at yan din sentiment ng kasama ko sa majority,” dagdag niya.
Sa ilalim ng panukalang setup, maaaring idaos ang regular na session ng Senado mula Lunes hanggang Miyerkules, alas-10 ng umaga hanggang alas-2 ng hapon, at magsisimula ang trial alas-2:30 ng hapon hanggang alas-7:30 ng gabi.
Ani Lacson, walang pressure na kailangang eksaktong matapos ang proceedings ng alas-7:30 ng gabi, at maaari itong umabot hanggang alas-10 o alas-11 ng gabi kung kinakailangan.
Dagdag niya, magiging pormal ang usapin sa caucus ng mga senador sa susunod na linggo, kung saan kokonsultahin din ang mga miyembro ng minority bloc.
Sinabi ni Lacson na kung magkakasundo ang mga senador sa bagong iskedyul, malamang na ipahayag ito sa Miyerkules, Agosto 26, dahil karaniwang inaanunsyo tuwing Miyerkules ang mga iskedyul ng trial para sa susunod na linggo, upang magkaroon ng sapat na oras ang prosecution at defense na maghanda.
“(Kung) may pressing matters na kailangan tugunan, sa legislative session, pwede ilipat sa umaga ang impeachment trial uli,” aniya.
“Definitely Monday to Wednesday next week, umaga pa rin ang impeachment trial. Ia-announce yan kung sakaling lipat kami ng hapon, announce ng Presiding Officer sa Wednesday,” dagdag niya.
Sa ngayon, sinabi ni Lacson na hindi niya nakikitang matatapos ang trial bago ang Disyembre, dahil hindi pa natatapos ng prosecution ang paglalahad nito sa ikalawa sa apat na articles, matapos nito ay kailangan pang iharap ng defense ang kanilang kaso.
*****