SENATOR Erwin Tulfo announced on Thursday that the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte is officially scheduled to start on July 6, following a consensus reached during a Senate caucus led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
In an interview over GMA News’ Unang Balita, Tulfo confirmed that the schedule was finalized and presented to all members of the chamber during their meeting. “The schedule was given yesterday. SP Cayetano called for a caucus of all members, and the beginning of the impeachment trial is set on July 6,” he stated.
Tulfo also laid out the Senate’s daily arrangement to accommodate both its regular legislative duties and the trial proceedings. Under the agreed setup, senators will hold their usual session from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, followed by the impeachment trial in the afternoon. Hearings will run from Monday to Wednesday — starting at 2:00 PM on Mondays and at 3:00 PM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, continuing until evening. Thursdays will be dedicated solely to regular Senate business to ensure legislative work remains on track.
On another matter, Tulfo expressed opposition to the proposal of Senator Rodante Marcoleta allowing Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to vote in the impeachment proceedings even if he is not physically present. Tulfo emphasized that physical attendance is a strict requirement, noting that remote participation was only permitted in the past due to lockdown restrictions during the COVID‑19 pandemic.
“Many of us in the minority will not agree to that. He needs to be physically present,” Tulfo stressed, setting a clear stance on the matter of attendance and voting rules.
The lawmaker added that the Senate is currently waiting for official guidance from the leadership regarding its next steps concerning Senator dela Rosa, following the Supreme Court’s decision to deny his petition for a Temporary Restraining Order against the International Criminal Court arrest warrant. As preparations for the impeachment trial move forward, the chamber continues to address concurrent legal and procedural issues to ensure proceedings follow established rules and the Constitution.
