During the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo criticized the unequal allocation of speaking time among senators.He noted that opposing senators were allowed to speak for 5-10 minutes, while his side was often cut off after just two minutes.Tulfo humorously mentioned nudging staff to press the buzzer to ensure fair time distribution.

The trial's presiding officer, Chiz Escudero, emphasized that all senators are equal, but the presence of Anika, the anonymous bell-ringer from the Senate secretariat, became a focal point.

The buzzer, which is used to signal when a senator's time is up, was handled by various senators, including Tulfo, who pressed it behind him despite Senator Marcos continuing to speak.The trial, which has already spanned nine days, is expected to last around 83 more days if the current pace continues.The incident highlights the procedural challenges and informal dynamics within the impeachment court, where humor and protocol coexist.