Pangilinan eyed to preside over VP Sara impeachment trial

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

Senator Francis Pangilinan (Senate of the Philippines/facebook)

MANILA – Sen. Francis Pangilinan emerged as one of the names being discussed to preside over the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as the Senate prepares for proceedings scheduled to resume on July 6.

Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday confirmed ongoing discussions on the possibility of designating a lawyer-senator to oversee the trial, an arrangement earlier suggested by former Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Asked whether Pangilinan was among those being considered, Gatchalian replied: “Tama ka, sinabi ni Sen. Sotto ‘yun. At ‘yan ang kasalukuyang pinag-uusapan (You’re correct. Senator Sotto said that, and that is currently being discussed).”

The development came as Gatchalian said preparations for the impeachment proceedings are moving forward, including the issuance of pretrial notices to both the prosecution and defense panels.

“Yes, I signed the notice for pretrial yesterday. So pinadala na namin ‘yan both to the defense and the prosecution team (We already sent that to both the defense and prosecution teams),” he said.

Gatchalian, however, said no final decision has been made on who will ultimately preside over the impeachment court, adding that the matter remains under discussion among senators as they prepare for the start of the trial next month.

This article is republished from PNA.