Former justices say conviction threshold in Duterte impeachment not fixed at 16

MANILA — Three of four retired Supreme Court justices invited to advise on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment proceedings Wednesday testified that the number of votes required for conviction is not automatically fixed at 16, challenging a widely held assumption about the trial's constitutional requirements.

The justices appeared as "amici curiae," or friends of the court, to provide expert guidance on procedural and constitutional matters during the high-profile impeachment trial. Their collective view suggests the conviction threshold may be subject to interpretation and Senate determination rather than being a fixed constitutional mandate.

The testimony carries significant implications for the ongoing trial, as clarity on voting requirements could affect how senators approach the case and what outcome might be constitutionally permissible. The distinction between an automatic threshold and a determinable one could influence both the prosecution's strategy and the defense's legal arguments.

The fourth retired justice's position on the matter was not immediately detailed in available accounts of the proceedings. The impeachment trial represents one of the highest-profile constitutional cases in recent Philippine history, drawing intense scrutiny over procedural adherence and legal interpretation.