Senate majority pushes afternoon schedule for Duterte impeachment trial

MANILA — The Senate majority has coalesced around a proposal to reschedule the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to afternoon hearings, according to Senator Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson.

Lacson said Saturday that a majority of the senator-judges representing the administration bloc in the upper chamber had discussed and endorsed the timing change for the high-profile proceedings.

The proposed afternoon schedule would represent a shift in the conduct of the impeachment trial, which carries significant political implications given the standing of the Vice President in the current administration.

Details regarding the rationale behind the timing proposal and when the revised schedule would take effect remain unclear. The trial is expected to proceed with the new arrangement pending full Senate approval of the proposed change.