The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte could become the longest in Philippine history if it reaches the 92 trial days, Senate Secretary and Impeachment Clerk of Court Renato Bantug said on Saturday, June 27.

In a radio interview on DWIZ, Bantug said the estimate is based on the prosecution's projection that it will need up to 62 trial days to present its evidence and the defense's estimate of another 30 trial days.

“Kung aabot talaga tayo ng 92 trial days, 'yan ang magiging pinakamahaba nating impeachment trial so far (If we will really reach 92 trial days, that would be the longest impeachment trial so far),” Bantug told reporters.

The Senate is expected to hold impeachment proceedings three days a week. Bantug said he has yet to compute the exact duration but noted that the projected 92 trial days would have to be divided across the three weekly trial days.

Under the current calendar, trial proceedings will be held Mondays through Wednesdays at 2 p.m. until the week before the State of the Nation Address (SONA), with Thursdays reserved for motions.

After the SONA, the schedule shifts to Tuesdays through Thursdays at 2 p.m.

The schedule, along with the order of presentation of evidence and witnesses, will be laid out in the Senate's pre-trial order.

“Nakapaloob po 'yan. Yung order of presentation, nandoon na po 'yan, plus yung projected trial dates na sinabi naman ng mga partido kung makakailang trial days ang kanilang kakailanganin para matapos ang kanilang presentation of evidence,” Bantug said.

(That’s already included. The order of presentation is there, plus the projected trial dates indicated by the parties on how many trial days they will need to finish presenting their evidence.)

He acknowledged that a months-long impeachment trial would likely overlap with the Senate's budget season. This will pose a challenge as lawmakers need to balance their judicial and legislative functions.

To address this, Bantug says the Senate has reserved three committee rooms exclusively for legislative work, allowing committee hearings—including budget deliberations—to continue while the impeachment court is in session.

“Yan ang hamon, yan ang challenge pero handa naman tayong harapin 'yan (That's the challenge but we're ready to face that),” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, has echoed the concern, noting that budget hearings often consume entire days and extend into the evening.

“Kaya kung aabutin man yung impeachment sa budget hearings, magiging challenge talaga yung pag-schedule at yung pagpatuloy ng mga budget hearings (If it will overlap with the budget hearings, it will really be a challenge to schedule and hold the budget hearings),” Ejercito said.

He expressed hope that the impeachment proceedings would conclude before the budget season intensifies so the Senate could focus on deliberating the proposed national budget.