The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, hold oral arguments on the disputed voting threshold in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol on Monday said he "accepts" Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo's criticisms against his earlier announcement that Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial may wrap up by December 16.
Tulfo admonished Tongol in open court after the spokesperson told reporters last week about a date when the chamber is expected to finish Duterte's impeachment trial.
"As a good soldier in this line of profession and as my duty as a spokesperson, I take the comments of the good Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo and all the other senator judges on the chin," Tongol said in a press conference.
"I accept them and I am thankful for their guidance and for hand-holding me in how to perform this judge as a spokesperson. I am full of gratitude and I will take it on the chin as it is. It's part of the judge," he said.
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The December 16 end date for the impeachment trial is just an "administrative logical projection" and an "administrative calculation" based on the earlier statements of Presiding Office Francis Escudero and Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Tongol explained.
"That date hindi natin sinet na deadline pero yun po ay base lamang sa administrative projection for logistical purposes," he said.
"Yun po ay moving targets, hindi po siya pagdidikta na dapat yun ang mangyari," he said.
Tongol said that he understands why senator judges may be concerned about putting an end date to the trial, when the respondent has yet to start presenting its own case before the tribunal.
"Naiintindihan po natin yung pag-call out ng ating mga senator judges dahil siyempre as a senator judge, ayaw natin na bibigyan ng impeachment court ng deadline as if may predetermined na na resolusyon sa impeachment," he said.
"Dapat po hindi ang ebidensya ang magfofollow sa calendar, dapat ang calendar ang magfofollow sa ebidensya," he said.
Tulfo earlier asked the presiding officer to admonish their own spokesperson, but Escudero has yet to make a final ruling on the issue.
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