Manila: Senate President Win Gatchalian on Wednesday said a verdict in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte remains possible before December, as the Senate impeachment court moves to a tighter timetable and longer hearing days. 'Hopefully, before December, matapos na natin. Hopefully, ha? May verdict, may verdict, may verdict (we can finish it. Hopefully, okay? There will be a verdict),' Gatchalian said in an ambush interview at the Senate.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian said the target remains dependent on the number of witnesses to be presented by both the prosecution and the defense, but noted that the prosecution's move to reduce its witnesses has given the court more room to speed up the trial. 'With this new development, yung prosecution, nagbawas rin sila ng number of witnesses. Tapos may bago kami ng timetable ngayon, 10 days, the full day (the prosecution also reduced the number of witnesses. Then we now have a new timetable, 10 full days),' he said.
He said the full-day hearings would run from 10 a.m. until the court finishes its work for the day, with no budget deliberations scheduled during those days. 'Malaking bagay yun. In fact, malaking kabawasan yun sa timetable (That is a big thing. In fact, that is a big reduction in the timetable),' Gatchalian said, referring to the prosecution's decision to cut its witness list.
He said the court hopes to hear two to three witnesses in one day once the full-day schedule begins. Gatchalian, however, said the final pace of the proceedings would still depend on the defense once it starts presenting its own witnesses after the prosecution completes its evidence on the four articles of impeachment.
On the pending question of the voting threshold, Gatchalian said senator-judges would first hear from legal experts and constitutionalists before deciding. He said the Senate is looking at inviting three to five amici curiae, preferably former chief justices, former Supreme Court justices, and recognized experts on the Constitution. 'Papakinggan natin sila. Isang araw tayo para pakinggan sila, maintindihan at ma-process yung kanilang mga sinasabi (We will listen to them. We will devote one day to hear them, understand them, and process what they will say),' he said.
Asked whether the issue could reach the Supreme Court, Gatchalian said it would be difficult to preempt, noting that the court would first consider the views of the invited experts.
