Zubiri pushes to move VP Sara trial sched anew

Senator-Judge Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Tuesday manifested to move the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte back in the afternoon to enable the prosecution and defense teams more time to present their arguments.

On the 14th day of the trial, Zubiri suggested that the legislative session at the Senate be conducted at 10 a.m. instead, considering that it may be held only for a few hours.

After the session, he said that the trial may begin at 3 p.m., “so that we are not hampered by our legislative calendar.”

“I could see that having the sessions for the impeachment court in the morning, we have to put a halt because of the sessions in the afternoon,” Zubiri lamented.

“Discussions such as these are important. When you present evidence and the cross will be done by the counsels for the respondent, hindi po mapuputol ‘yung kanilang discussion. Hanggang sawa tayo, pwede tayo dito from 3 to 10 ng gabi,” he added.

(Discussions such as these are important. When you present evidence and the cross will be done by the counsels for the respondent, their discussion will not be interrupted. We can hold the trial as long as we want. We can hold it from 3 to 10 p.m.)

Caucus

By adjusting the schedule of the trial, Zubiri said that the public will be given more time to watch the trial and the proceedings in general may be hastened.

Senator-Judges Pia Cayetano and Camille Villar thereafter manifested discussing the matter in a caucus.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero affirmed that the trial’s schedule will be adjusted as necessary.

“The points of the good gentleman are well taken, but we shall decide at appropriate time after caucus,” Escudero said.

To recall, the impeachment court ruled to conduct the trial from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., following the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and the opening of the regular session on July 27.

Prior to this, the court had been holding the trial from 2 p.m. onwards. —VAL, GMA News