Impeachment court's verdict on Sara Duterte seen by Dec. 16, says spokesman

The Senate impeachment court is expected to reach a verdict on Vice President Sara Duterte’s case by December 16, according to its spokesperson, Atty. Regie Tongol, on Friday.

Tongol said this in the wake of changes in the schedule of the trial hearings as the Senate tried to balance the impeachment proceedings with its usual legislative duties.

The latest rescheduling followed after the defense counsel asked to defer the presentation of the Anti-Money Laundering Council witness to Monday, suspending all proceedings until then.

“Aabot po tayo ng around mga December 16,” Tongol said, when asked about the hearings.

(The hearings will be held until around December 16.)

Pressed if he meant that there will be a verdict by December 16, Tongol said, "Correct."

Tongol said that the prosecution’s presentation of evidence could be finished within the next two weeks.

Assuming that the prosecution finishes its presentation of current witnesses and evidence on time, as well as not adding any other testimonies, they could be finished by Thursday or Friday next week.

This was because the whole-day trials are counted as two sessions, Tongol said.

After this, they will have a formal offer of exhibits, wherein the House Prosecution Panel could show all of their documentary exhibits and have the defense comment on them.

The defense will then have 30 days to respond to the case, which leads to the estimated schedule of December 16. –NB, GMA News