Prosecution says new Senate voting rule unchanged impeachment burden

MANILA — The House prosecution panel rejected arguments that a new voting formula adopted by the Senate impeachment court would advantage their case against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the procedural change remains neutral to both sides.

House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro, a representative from Batangas, told the court that the revised denominator for calculating conviction votes affects prosecutors and defense equally and does not alter the fundamental legal requirement that prosecutors prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.

The Senate impeachment court recently adjusted its voting procedures, prompting debate over whether the change could influence the outcome of the trial. Prosecutors sought to clarify that the modification, while technical in nature, does not diminish the strength of evidence needed to sustain charges against the Vice President.

The clarification comes as the impeachment trial continues before the Senate, with both sides preparing their closing arguments. Legal analysts have monitored the procedural adjustments closely, as even small changes to voting formulas can carry significant weight in impeachment proceedings.