Manila: The House prosecution panel has expressed support for moving Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial to 3 p.m. and adding Friday as an additional trial day. This initiative aims to accelerate the proceedings following interruptions due to adverse weather conditions.

According to Philippines News Agency, Ace Barbers, the House impeachment team adviser and spokesperson, emphasized that an afternoon schedule would allow legislators to manage their legislative responsibilities in the morning. He also suggested that holding an additional hearing on Friday could help recover lost time due to recent cancellations. Barbers shared these insights during an online press briefing, highlighting the importance of balancing legislative work and the impeachment process.

Barbers further explained that Thursdays are generally reserved for Senate committee hearings, suggesting that schedule should remain unchanged. However, he proposed utilizing Fridays as an extra trial day to ensure the proceedings are conducted efficiently. He noted that using Friday exclusively for the trial could be beneficial given its availability.

The Senate impeachment court had to postpone its sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday due to inclement weather, which delayed the prosecution's presentation of evidence regarding allegations of Duterte's misuse of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds. The current schedule for the impeachment trial is from Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., before resuming the Senate's regular plenary session.

Barbers expressed that extending the trial schedule could prevent the proceedings from becoming prolonged. Lorna Kapunan, counsel for the House panel of prosecutors, echoed Barbers' sentiments, advocating for a 3 p.m. start time to allow the trial to continue into the evening if necessary. She emphasized the importance of implementing the proposed schedule promptly to expedite the trial process.