Senator-judge Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Tuesday, Aug. 11, proposed moving the Senate’s impeachment court proceedings to the afternoon to avoid conflicts with the chamber’s legislative sessions and allow the trial to proceed for longer hours.

Zubiri suggested that the Senate hold its regular legislative sessions at 10 a.m. and begin the impeachment trial at 3 p.m., allowing proceedings to continue until as late as 10 p.m.

“I could see that having the sessions for the impeachment court in the morning, we have to put a halt because of the sessions in the afternoon,” Zubiri said during the impeachment trial.

He said the arrangement would prevent interruptions during the presentation of evidence and cross-examination by lawyers for Vice President Sara Duterte.

“When you present evidence and the cross will be done by the counsels for the respondent, hindi po mapuputol yung kanilang discussion,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri said the proposed schedule could also give the public more time to hear the arguments of both sides and help speed up the proceedings.

He noted that the Senate had spent only about two to three hours on its legislative calendar during sessions the previous week, resulting in the impeachment proceedings ending at around 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“Sayang din naman yung oras para sa impeachment court,” he said.

Zubiri formally placed the proposal on the table but said he was willing to allow the Senate leadership to determine which days the revised schedule would apply.

Presiding officer and Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the Senate would consider adjusting its schedule as needed but stressed that any change would have to be discussed first in caucus and communicated to the parties in advance.

Escudero said the Senate was “not in a hurry” to decide on the matter and that no immediate change would be made during the week.

Senator Pia Cayetano also urged the Senate to return to caucus discussions, recalling that lawmakers had previously agreed on the current schedule for specific reasons. She also noted that

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano was absent from the proceedings.

Senator Camille Villar, likewise, said the chamber should give lawmakers the same opportunity to discuss the proposal in caucus, noting that a previous suggestion to move the Senate’s starting time had also been referred for discussion among senators.

Zubiri said he was raising the proposal early so the prosecution and defense panels would not be caught off guard by a sudden change in schedule.

“I'd like to put that notice because last week we only had two hours of session,” he said.

Escudero ultimately said the proposal would be considered after the Senate caucus.

“The points of the good gentleman are well taken, but we shall decide at the appropriate time after caucus,” Escudero said.