Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian confirmed that he will preside over the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which is set to begin on Monday, July 6.
Gatchalian said the Senate Rules designate the Senate president as the presiding officer in impeachment trials.
The clarification came after Panfilo Lacson said in mid-June that Francis Escudero, a lawyer, would oversee the proceedings. Gatchalian, however, had earlier maintained that the issue would still be deliberated by the Senate.
The Senate had previously amended its impeachment rules to allow senators to choose a different presiding officer in impeachment trials involving officials other than the president.
Gatchalian said he is reviewing both the legal procedures and the merits of the case in preparation for what is expected to be a lengthy trial.
He said the proposed schedule allots 90 trial days, with hearings three times a week, which could stretch the proceedings to seven to eight months. The final schedule, however, has yet to be finalized.
The Senate president also said the impeachment court will not entertain proposals to lower the constitutional threshold for conviction on the first day of the trial, stressing that there is an appropriate time to discuss the issue.
The Constitution requires a two-thirds vote of the 24-member Senate to convict an impeached official. Questions have been raised over whether the required number remains at 16 in light of the expected absences of Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Jinggoy Estrada.
Dela Rosa has reportedly gone into hiding following the unsealing of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. Estrada, meanwhile, is detained over graft charges related to the flood control controversy.
Despite the anticipated absences, Gatchalian said he expects senators who are physically able to participate to attend the opening of the impeachment trial on Monday.
