Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri has revealed that some senators are pushing to cut the 16-vote threshold to convict Vice President Sara Duterte with the continuing absence of some senator-judges.
“There are some senators that have questioned the threshold and it may come up sooner or later,” Zubiri said in a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 3.
He did not name names and only said the issue was raised during caucus or meetings.
”That I can divulge, there [are] questions with some senators on the threshold. So that issue has to be answered soon enough by the presiding officer,” he said.
Asked whether the senators wanted to lower the threshold, Zubiri said yes.
The Constitution states that “no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.” Questions over the conviction threshold have persisted as a number of senator-judges are absent from the impeachment trial.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been in hiding while facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, while Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are detained in connection with plunder charges.
Senator Loren Legarda has also been on medical leave abroad since Aug. 3.
On the first day of the impeachment trial on July 6, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the presiding officer of the impeachment court, maintained that 16 votes are needed to convict Duterte, representing two-thirds of the 24-member Senate. At the time, only Dela Rosa and Estrada were absent.
Zubiri said the best way to resolve the issue would be to debate it publicly and seek a ruling from Escudero. Should the Senate decide to change the threshold, Zubiri said he expects the matter to be challenged before the Supreme Court.
