Senators to decide whether to hold trials in the morning after Sona

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-judges will decide on the proposal to hold Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial in the morning, starting July 27, when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will deliver his 5th state of the nation address (Sona) at 4 p.m., impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol said Monday.

According to Tongol, this means the impeachment proceedings will proceed with their current schedule, which is 2 p.m. onwards, in the next two weeks before July 27.

“I think it will be considered by the Senators after the Sona … I think they are considering whether to transfer the trials in the morning or retain them in the afternoon,” said Tongol in a press conference.

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READ: WATCH: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 13, 2026

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This came after Presiding Officer and Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero, in his podcast over the weekend revealed that he made a proposal to conduct the impeachment trial from the morning to early afternoon once the plenary session resumes on July 27.

Tongol said both Escudero and Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian are currently tackling concerns over how they will be able to manage the time if they shift the trial to the morning.

READ: Highlights: Day 4 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 13, 2026

“Because if the trial is in the morning, there will be an allocated exact time for it to finish, because there will be a legislative agenda for the afternoon. So if it is in the morning, I think the Presiding Officer does not want the trial to drag on until the afternoon,” said Tongol.

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“Compared to if it is in the afternoon, it can drag until wee hours in the morning. I think that’s just a very scheduling concern for the two of them to talk,” he added.

The Senate impeachment court is currently tackling Article IV of the impeachment complaints against Duterte, which involve the alleged assassination threats she made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

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The entire trial is expected to run for 92 days, which means it may extend until early 2027.

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