Politics · Philippines Bureau
Escudero says Duterte impeachment ruling can be challenged by senators
The Senate Impeachment Court's presiding officer acknowledged Wednesday that fellow senator-judges retain the power to overturn his decisions in the Vice President Sara Duterte case, even as he maintains opposition to lowering the conviction threshold.
LSN Philippines ·
Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero said the other senator-judges can reverse his rulings regarding Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment proceedings, despite his stated opposition to reducing the number of votes required for conviction.
Escudero made the statement as the court grapples with a significant procedural question: whether to restrict certain members from voting on Duterte's fate. The restriction of voting senators would effectively lower the threshold needed to convict the Vice President.
While Escudero has expressed his position against such a change, he acknowledged the collaborative nature of the impeachment court. The senator-judges, who serve as jurors in the proceedings, retain authority to collectively override the presiding officer's stance on procedural matters.
The impeachment case against Duterte marks a high-stakes political development in the Philippines. The court's decisions on fundamental procedural issues like voting eligibility could significantly influence the trajectory and outcome of the proceedings against the Vice President.