MANILA, Philippines — The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte should be given less time to present evidence in her impeachment trial after prosecutors withdrew three of the original four articles of impeachment, House prosecutor Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said Monday, October 26.
Ridon explained that the Senate impeachment court had initially allotted the defense 30 trial days to present evidence covering all four articles. With only one article remaining, he said the defense should no longer require the same amount of time.
“Para po doon sa kabuuan (four articles), tatlumpung araw ang binigay po sa depensa. So our expectation is kung nabawasan na po ng tatlong artikulo at isa na lang po yung paglalatagan ng ebidensya, dapat mas maiksi na po yung panahon na igagawad sa depensa para po maglatag ng ebidensya,” Ridon said.
The remaining Article II concerns allegations of unexplained wealth against Duterte. The three withdrawn articles involved grave threats, the alleged misuse of confidential funds, and bribery.
Ridon said the prosecution would leave it to the Senate impeachment court to determine whether the defense’s allotted time should be reduced.
“I think it is something that we will have to confirm with the Senate impeachment court kung actual ho ba na magbabawas po ng bilang ng araw para sa presentasyon po ng ebidensya on unexplained wealth,” he said.
DEFENSE MAY NEED ONLY EIGHT TRIAL DAYS
Prosecution spokesman and former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers also suggested that the defense might need substantially less time, saying he understood that it had requested only eight trial days to present evidence on Article II.
“They were asking for thirty trial days, pero dito sa article na ito, sa aking pagkakaalam sa article II (on unexplained wealth), ang kanilang hiningi ay eight trial days lamang,” Barbers said.
He added that, if the defense follows that schedule, its presentation could be completed in about two weeks.
“So kung following that, na eight trial days lang, maaring matapos na, siguro matagal na yung two weeks,” Barbers said.
The final duration of the defense’s presentation will depend on the Senate impeachment court, which presides over the trial and determines its proceedings.
IMPEACHMENT TRIAL TO RESUME NOVEMBER 9
The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to resume hearings on November 9 following Congress’ Halloween break.
The November calendar includes hearings on November 9 to 13, November 19 and 20, and November 23. Sessions on November 9 and 11 are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., while the November 10 hearing is set from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hearings on November 12, 13, 19 and 20 are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The November 23 session is set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No hearing is scheduled for November 30, Bonifacio Day.
Several senator-judges have previously expressed hope that Duterte’s impeachment trial would conclude before the Christmas holidays.
Duterte’s impeachment trial originally involved four articles of impeachment. Following the prosecution’s withdrawal of three articles, the remaining charge focuses on allegations of unexplained wealth.
The change has prompted prosecutors to question whether the defense still needs the full 30 trial days initially allotted for its presentation of evidence. However, any adjustment to the schedule remains subject to the Senate impeachment court’s decision.