Politics · Philippines Bureau
Ex-justices' arguments favor prosecution in impeachment trial
A Batangas lawmaker says former Supreme Court chief justices' submissions on lowering conviction thresholds benefit the prosecution in the ongoing impeachment proceedings. The arguments came as the Senate Impeachment Court deliberated on how many votes are needed to convict.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Rep. Gerville Luistro of Batangas said Wednesday that legal arguments submitted by former Supreme Court chief justices regarding reduced conviction thresholds in impeachment cases favor the prosecution side. Luistro made the comment during a break in the Senate Impeachment Court's discussions on establishing the threshold needed to convict an impeachable official. The amici curiae submissions from the retired justices addressed the scenario where senator-judges may be absent during voting. The former chief justices' arguments regarding how absences should affect the minimum number of votes required for conviction appear to strengthen the prosecution's position in the ongoing case. The Senate Impeachment Court continues to work through procedural questions as it weighs evidence and arguments from both sides.