Senate’s Tolentino Room reserved for VP Sara impeachment trial

The Senate will also utilize other spaces, including the Sotto and Quezon rooms, for impeachment-related proceedings. (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Senate has officially reserved the Tolentino Room for the prosecution panel in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug confirmed during the logistical preparations Tuesday.

Bantug said the Senate must ensure that committee hearings continue without disruption.

“As you guys would know, napaka-limited talaga ng rooms ng Senate (the Senate rooms are very limited), and by the time we go into trial, we expect also that the Senate of the 20th Congress has started its session…So, the instruction of the Senate President is that we must also leave enough committee rooms for actual committee hearings,” he told journalists after accompanying House Secretary General Reginald Velasco and other officials in an ocular inspection of the Senate premises in Pasay City.

The Senate session hall, which can accommodate 340 people in the galleries plus 30 in the VIP box, is expected to be the main venue for the impeachment hearings.

The Senate will also utilize other spaces, including the Sotto and Quezon rooms, for impeachment-related proceedings.

However, the defense panel’s designated area has yet to be finalized as discussions with their representatives are still pending.

“With the Senate’s limited room capacity and the 20th Congress already in session, we have to make sure enough committee rooms remain available,” Bantug said.