Duterte defense team considers challenging SC conviction threshold ruling

MANILA — The defense counsel for Vice President Sara Duterte indicated Wednesday that challenging the Supreme Court's modified conviction threshold in the ongoing impeachment proceedings remains under consideration. Defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa stated the appeal would constitute a "real possibility," though any decision hinges on consultations with Duterte. The Senate impeachment court recently ruled to reduce the two-thirds conviction requirement, a procedural change that significantly affects the threshold needed to remove Duterte from office. Poa did not elaborate on the specific grounds for a potential appeal or the timeline for discussions with the Vice President. The modification to the conviction standard has emerged as a contentious issue in the impeachment process, with Duterte's legal team examining their options to contest the ruling. The defense team's statement comes as the impeachment trial continues, with legal maneuvering from both prosecution and defense shaping the case's trajectory.