The Philippine Senate released its legislative and judicial schedule for the remaining months of the year, outlining key dates for Vice President Sara Duterte’s ongoing impeachment trial and the approval process for the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget.
Following a month-long recess, the Senate schedule balances high-profile trial proceedings with critical budget deliberations ahead of the year-end break.
Impeachment Trial Schedule
Trial proceedings presided over Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero are set across multiple dates in November, though the court faces constraints.
According to Escudero, the impeachment court will lose eight trial days this month due to scheduling conflicts, budget hearings, and an official break for the ASEAN summit.
Key trial dates include:
- November 9: Trial resumes from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., pausing for the Senate plenary session before resuming.
- November 10, 12, 13, 19, and 20: Full-day trial sessions from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- November 11: Trial runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., making way for the plenary session as needed before continuing.
- November 23: Trial is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The impeachment proceedings will be suspended on November 30 in observance of Bonifacio Day, a regular non-working holiday.
2027 National Budget Timeline
Simultaneously, the Senate outlined its timeline to pass the national budget for fiscal year 2027:
- November 23 – December 1: Senate plenary interpellations on the proposed budget.
- December 3: Scheduled second-reading approval.
- December 7: Scheduled third-reading approval.
- December 10 – 12: Bicameral conference committee deliberations.
- December 21: Expected signing of the bicameral conference committee report.
- December 22: Expected ratification of the bicameral report.