House SecGen inspects Senate ahead of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | ABS-CBN
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House SecGen inspects Senate ahead of Sara Duterte impeachment trial
House SecGen inspects Senate ahead of Sara Duterte impeachment trial
Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference, February 7, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference, February 7, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News MANILA – House Secretary General Reginald Velasco inspected the Senate premises on Tuesday ahead of the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
MANILA – House Secretary General Reginald Velasco inspected the Senate premises on Tuesday ahead of the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Velasco first visited the Session Hall, where the impeachment trial will be held, alongside Senate Secretary Renato Bantug.
Velasco first visited the Session Hall, where the impeachment trial will be held, alongside Senate Secretary Renato Bantug.
"We’re happy to see the facilities of the Senate where the trial will be held. This is exactly the venue where the last impeachment trial was held. This was the time of President PNoy Aquino and then the trial of Chief Justice [Renato] Corona,” he told reporters.
"We’re happy to see the facilities of the Senate where the trial will be held. This is exactly the venue where the last impeachment trial was held. This was the time of President PNoy Aquino and then the trial of Chief Justice [Renato] Corona,” he told reporters.
"This is our first visit here and we're very happy with the setup. We have no comments, no complaints. But we're happy that the Senate is joining us. We are one with this forthcoming event, Velasco added.
"This is our first visit here and we're very happy with the setup. We have no comments, no complaints. But we're happy that the Senate is joining us. We are one with this forthcoming event, Velasco added.
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Bantug said the current setup was already ideal and later refinements may focus on camera placement “because we want to maximize the space available for the prosecution and defense panels and for the public.” “We're trying to squeeze in as many seats as we can. Even [with] the limitations of space, we can only do so much," he said.
Bantug said the current setup was already ideal and later refinements may focus on camera placement “because we want to maximize the space available for the prosecution and defense panels and for the public.” “We're trying to squeeze in as many seats as we can. Even [with] the limitations of space, we can only do so much," he said.
Bantug said the Session Hall has a seating capacity of 340 in the gallery and 30 in the VIP box, which would be divided equally among the defense, the prosecution, and the public.
Bantug said the Session Hall has a seating capacity of 340 in the gallery and 30 in the VIP box, which would be divided equally among the defense, the prosecution, and the public.
He said the Senate has not yet spent any major expense on the trial.
He said the Senate has not yet spent any major expense on the trial.
"As for the access passes ng public and magiging members ng staff, we are trying to implement a QR-based system na may online registration to do away with paper," he added.
"As for the access passes ng public and magiging members ng staff, we are trying to implement a QR-based system na may online registration to do away with paper," he added.
The House Secretary General and Senate Secretary later visited the 150-square meter Sen. Arturo M. Tolentino Room, which is being offered for the prosecution panel.
The House Secretary General and Senate Secretary later visited the 150-square meter Sen. Arturo M. Tolentino Room, which is being offered for the prosecution panel.
"This is supposed to be the room for both the secretariat and the prosecution panel. So yun, we will have our comments later. But we're very happy that our request today was accommodated by the Senate. This is just the beginning of our close coordination and cooperation," Velasco said.
"This is supposed to be the room for both the secretariat and the prosecution panel. So yun, we will have our comments later. But we're very happy that our request today was accommodated by the Senate. This is just the beginning of our close coordination and cooperation," Velasco said.
UP TO 70 WITNESSES
Velasco said there could be up to 70 witnesses for all seven articles of impeachment and they might also need a room and security.
Velasco said there could be up to 70 witnesses for all seven articles of impeachment and they might also need a room and security.
Bantug said they were instructed by Senate President Francis Escudero to leave enough committee rooms available for hearings, since the upper chamber would be in session during the impeachment trial.
Bantug said they were instructed by Senate President Francis Escudero to leave enough committee rooms available for hearings, since the upper chamber would be in session during the impeachment trial.
"Ang mangyayari yung Recto, Laurel, the nearest committee rooms will be reserved for committee hearings. So essentially we will be using the committee rooms farther than the hall, the multi-purpose area, the Tolentino, Sotto and Quezon rooms," he said.
"Ang mangyayari yung Recto, Laurel, the nearest committee rooms will be reserved for committee hearings. So essentially we will be using the committee rooms farther than the hall, the multi-purpose area, the Tolentino, Sotto and Quezon rooms," he said.
"Sa defense yes we also identified [rooms] in deference to the fact that we have not yet talked to the defense, di ko muna sasabihin. Yes we wrote them yesterday," Bantug added.
"Sa defense yes we also identified [rooms] in deference to the fact that we have not yet talked to the defense, di ko muna sasabihin. Yes we wrote them yesterday," Bantug added.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier wrote to Escudero acknowledging the preparations being done by the Senate.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier wrote to Escudero acknowledging the preparations being done by the Senate.
He said he trusts "the proceedings will be conducted with fairness, impartiality and strict adherence to the provisions of the Constitution."
He said he trusts "the proceedings will be conducted with fairness, impartiality and strict adherence to the provisions of the Constitution."
No final date has been set for the start of the impeachment trial of the Vice President. However, Escudero released a proposed timetable showing the tentative start date as July 30.
No final date has been set for the start of the impeachment trial of the Vice President. However, Escudero released a proposed timetable showing the tentative start date as July 30.
"We are one in this mission to see to it that we will have a just and fair trial. We want to make sure this will happen pretty soon that's why we are getting ready. We're happy to note that even the Senate is preparing for the trial," Velasco said.
"We are one in this mission to see to it that we will have a just and fair trial. We want to make sure this will happen pretty soon that's why we are getting ready. We're happy to note that even the Senate is preparing for the trial," Velasco said.
"Kami in the House, we are almost there with our preparations. We are ready to have the trial anytime upon the approval of the Senate we're ready to implement, prosecute the seven articles of impeachment," he added.
"Kami in the House, we are almost there with our preparations. We are ready to have the trial anytime upon the approval of the Senate we're ready to implement, prosecute the seven articles of impeachment," he added.
Velasco and Bantug confirmed both sides had spoken to lawyers who wanted to help out as private prosecutors but declined to give specific names.
Velasco and Bantug confirmed both sides had spoken to lawyers who wanted to help out as private prosecutors but declined to give specific names.
"Not yet formally engaged as far as I know but we've been talking to a few lawyers in the past three or four weeks already. Meron naman, they expressed willingness to help us. Meron naman kaming nakukuhang tulong from the outside," Bantug said.
"Not yet formally engaged as far as I know but we've been talking to a few lawyers in the past three or four weeks already. Meron naman, they expressed willingness to help us. Meron naman kaming nakukuhang tulong from the outside," Bantug said.
"It's a mixture eh. Some of them volunteered, some of them were recruited because of their experience in the court trial and also actual experience in the impeachment cases. Kasi kailangan maghihire ka ng may experience para ma-guide ka eh. Wala naman kaming problema," Velasco said.
"It's a mixture eh. Some of them volunteered, some of them were recruited because of their experience in the court trial and also actual experience in the impeachment cases. Kasi kailangan maghihire ka ng may experience para ma-guide ka eh. Wala naman kaming problema," Velasco said.
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