Team DailyPedia
Senator-Judge Migz Zubiri said senators have been working up to 12 hours a day as they handle Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial alongside their regular legislative duties.
Zubiri raised the issue before the conclusion of the Senate impeachment court’s 21st trial day on Wednesday, September 2.
“At sa totoo lang, Mr. Presiding Officer, pagod na pagod na ako. 12-hour days po tayo dito. From 9 to 9, nandito po tayo,” Zubiri said.
He explained that senators attend impeachment proceedings before proceeding to plenary sessions to tackle pending legislation.
Zubiri also raised concerns about scheduling once deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget begin.
“The budget is coming. For those who are familiar with the budget, maybe the lawyers are not familiar with the budget here. But the budget takes up about 12 hours, 13, 14 hours [a] day. We start at 9, we end late in the evening,” he said.
According to Zubiri, budget deliberations could require senators to spend entire days in session for two to three weeks.
“Whole days ’yan. That’s usually up for two weeks, cutting it short. Usually up to 18 days ’yan, that’s three weeks,” he said.
“And those are whole-day affairs because we are debating on the budget of each and every department, and agency, and GOCC in this Chamber.”
The House of Representatives has begun scrutinizing the proposed 2027 national budget, which will later undergo deliberations in the Senate.
Zubiri said senators would need to determine how to manage their schedule as they handle the impeachment proceedings, legislative work, and budget deliberations.
“So we really have to meet, Mr. Presiding Officer, on how we can make our time work,” he said.
“We’re doing three things at the same time for 24 of us, or for a small number of people.”
The Senate impeachment court is also considering holding extended trial sessions in October, when the impeachment proceedings are expected to overlap with regular Senate sessions on the proposed national budget.
Zubiri said senators need to discuss how they can accommodate the different proceedings in the coming weeks as they continue performing their responsibilities in the Senate.
