Retired justices say changing impeachment conviction threshold won't violate due process

MANILA, Philippines – The impeachment court's consideration of changing the conviction threshold in Vice President Sara Duterte's trial would not violate her constitutional protections, according to three retired Supreme Court justices who testified Wednesday.

The former justices addressed the question of whether presiding officer Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero's previous ruling—which set the conviction requirement at 16 votes—could be modified without breaching the Vice President's right to due process.

Their legal assessment provides insight into a procedural dispute that has emerged during the high-profile impeachment proceeding. The justices' intervention underscores the complexity of impeachment rules and constitutional protections in the Philippine political system.

The impeachment court has been examining various procedural matters as the trial against the Vice President continues. The question of voting thresholds carries significant weight, as the outcome will determine whether charges against Duterte can lead to her removal from office.

The retired justices' testimony reflects ongoing debate within legal circles about how impeachment procedures should balance the rights of the accused with the Senate's constitutional authority to conduct such trials.