Nope: VP Duterte's impeachment trial won't be held at the New Senate Building
By Dhel Nazario
As far as the venue goes, it can be safe to say that Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial will not be held at the New Senate Building (NSB) in Taguig.
In an interview with ANC, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said that this won't be the case, as per the report he received two weeks ago.
"The earliest we can transfer and it would be luck to have that would be December 2026. The latest would be December 2027," he said.
He explained that the reason is, the building never had, from the beginning, since 2012, a detailed, architectural, and engineering design or “DAED." He added that because of this, when he assumed office he kept on asking how much will it take to finish it, how much do wthey need to finish it, and how long will it take.
Escudero said that nobody could answer him because there was no DAED, the DAED was only completed under his watch in December of 2024.
"So, now I could confidently answer you already, it will be finished in the earliest, if we’re lucky, meaning weather permitting and everything, supplies arriving on time, December 2026 at the latest, December 2027," he said.
"For sure, for the 21st Congress, we will be there already," he added.
But for Escudero, it would be better to transfer by 2028.
"Kasi isang taon na lang ‘yong maga-graduate. Isang taon na lang ang hindi tatakbo, sayang naman ‘yong gagastusin sa opisina (Because there's only one year left until the senators graduate. There's just one more year left, it's a waste of expenses in the office), re-renovate just to stay there for a year, give it to the next set already of Senators who will run," he explained.