Senate President Win Gatchalian announced on Saturday that public access inside the Senate plenary hall will be restricted to around 50 seats for the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which is set to begin on July 6.
Gatchalian explained that the decision to limit physical attendance stems directly from the structural limitations of the current Senate chamber.
“Masikip talaga at yan ang isang problema natin sa Senado. Napakasikip ng Senado at kulang talaga ng space kung paano i-setup,” Gatchalian stated during a radio interview.
Despite the tight physical setup, the Senate leader reassured the public that the historic proceedings will fully comply with constitutional requirements regarding transparency and open access.
“Under the Constitution, dapat open to the public siya,” he noted.
To balance safety with public access, Gatchalian confirmed that the chamber will broadcast the trial live across multiple digital platforms, allowing citizens to watch the events unfold in real time.
“Definitely mapapanood naman ‘to ng taumbayan sa YouTube at sa iba pang livestreaming platforms,” he added.
With the July 6 trial date looming, Senate officials are wrapping up security and logistical arrangements alongside law enforcement agencies to ensure order during the high-profile trial.