Fast-track

By June 22, prosecutors must have already filed their reply to Duterte, with the submission of trial briefs proceeding on June 23 in the morning and the opening statements to be done in the afternoon.

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Proposed presentation of evidence for House prosecutors would then be on June 24 to 25, while for the defense, June 25 to 26.

If there would be a need for rebuttals, Tolentino said this would be done on June 27 in the morning for the prosecution and in the afternoon for the defense.

On June 28, each party would be given an hour for oral arguments, followed by a closed-door meeting of senator-judges on June 29 leading to a verdict on June 30.

"This has not been laid out yet. I am the chairman of the committee on rules, and the impeachment complaint has not been referred to me yet. Tomorrow (June 9), I can perhaps mention the expedited impeachment trial. This is not a summary procedure, but we need the cooperation of the prosecution," he said.

Meanwhile, Tolentino has a suggestion for hastening the impeachment trial: "They should choose whichever they think has the most sufficient evidence. That was what happened with the previous impeachment trial. In effect, you are withdrawing the five articles of impeachment, so that will really be sped up. You narrow down the issues (and) you focus on just two or three articles—that would be faster."

The senator also stressed that even the Vice President's prescribed 10-day period for a reply could be narrowed down to 5 or 3 days, saying her lawyers have already been studying the articles of impeachment since they were transmitted to the Senate in February.

"Maybe they already have a draft answer. That can be expedited within three days, but because we are respecting the substantive right coming from that existing rule of the impeachment court, we maintain (the 10 days). But if they will agree to five days (to reply) then it would be easier," he said.