Zubiri proposes swapping Senate impeachment trial and session hours as Duterte trial reaches day 15

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 12, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

Philippine senators are weighing a proposal to swap the daily schedule of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte with the Senate’s regular legislative session, after senator-judges said the current setup leaves too little time to complete cross-examination and questioning of witnesses.

Senator-Judge Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri raised the proposal during a recent hearing, suggesting that the Senate hold its legislative session in the morning at 10 a.m. and shift the impeachment trial to the afternoon, starting at 3 p.m. Zubiri said the change would give senator-judges more time to examine evidence and would prevent cross-examination from being cut short.

“Can I make a suggestion that we move our legislative sessions to the morning at 10 and the impeachment trial to 3 in the afternoon, so that we are not hampered by the legislative calendar,” Zubiri said, adding that the current arrangement forces discussions to stop midway even when they are important. 

He said senators and the public could still watch proceedings in full under the new arrangement, “from 3 to 10 in the evening,” and that the change would let the chamber “do work” while hastening the impeachment proceedings. Zubiri said he intended to formalize the proposal through a motion.

The trial, now on its 15th day, began on July 6, 2026, and was originally held at 2 p.m. daily. The schedule was moved to 10 a.m. after the opening of the second regular session of the 20th Congress on July 27, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address, to make room for the Senate’s regular legislative business in the afternoon.

Under the current setup, senator-judges said the limited time available in the afternoon session has often been enough only for direct examination, with cross-examination and clarificatory questions from senator-judges routinely pushed to a later date.

Senator-Judge Pia Cayetano responded to Zubiri’s proposal by noting that the matter had already been taken up in a caucus and suggesting the issue return there for further discussion. 

“I recall we discussed this in caucus, so can we just go back to the caucus, because there were reasons we decided this,” Cayetano said, adding that the Senate’s minority floor leader was not present and requesting that the discussion be held separately.

Senator-Judge Camille Villar likewise cautioned against a quick decision, recalling that the Senate had previously deliberated over a smaller adjustment to its schedule. 

“I remember not too long ago our majority floor leader even brought up the idea of starting 30 minutes later, from 10 o’clock to 10:30, and it was suggested by a colleague that we discuss it in caucus together,” 

Villar said. “So let’s afford the same time for such decisions — we can’t do it right away.”

Impeachment trial court Presiding Officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who oversees the impeachment trial, said any changes to the trial’s schedule would not be implemented abruptly. 

Escudero said both the prosecution and defense would be notified several days ahead of any adjustment, which would only take effect once senator-judges reach an agreement.

Both the prosecution and defense panels in the impeachment trial said they were prepared to comply with whatever schedule the Senate ultimately decides on.

No date has been set for the Senate caucus expected to take up the proposal, and the trial’s current schedule remains in place in the meantime.