Senate to implement new session schedule
THE Senate will be implementing a new legislative schedule starting next week in order to balance its task as legislator and as an impeachment court handling the case of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.
During its session on Tuesday, members of the Senate decided to hold legislative sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays instead of Mondays and Tuesdays.
Prior to the start of the impeachment trial, the Senate had been conducting legislative sessions three times a week from Monday to Wednesday but the chamber cut it to two to give way to the impeachment proceedings.
If there is a Commission on Appointments hearing today, the Senate will just adjourn the legislative session early.
Senators want to dedicate Monday to caucus, while Thursday and Friday will be a free time for them and during which they can review pleadings and transcripts of the proceedings.
Sitting as senator-judges in the impeachment course, they are also eyeing to limit trial time to at least three hours a day or from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. only to be able to give the older members of the chamber time to rest.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd said that the impeachment proceedings which are held from Monday to Thursday are very taxing not only to the senators but also other personnel of the Senate.
Sen. Miriam Defensor- Santiago also on Tuesday said that she will be asking the
International Criminal Court if it is possible for her to first finish the impeachment trial before she is called for work as ICC judge.
Santiago, in a letter addressed to members of the media covering the Senate, added that even only one vote could be crucial in deciding the impeachment case, the reason why she wants to be there when the court hands its verdict.
She is one of the six newly-elected judges of the international court who will take their oath in March.
After the oath-taking, the judges will go back to their respective countries and will wait for the ICC to call them in six months up to two years.
“I shall take steps to persuade the [international court] to call me, only until after the impeachment decision has been promulgated,” Santiago stated in her letter.