Retired justices weigh in on conviction threshold in Duterte impeachment trial

MANILA — The Senate impeachment court heard testimony from four retired Supreme Court justices serving as amici curiae on Tuesday as arguments continued over the constitutional threshold needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte of impeachment charges.

Three of the four justices who appeared before the court — former Chief Justices Artemio Panganiban, Reynato Puno, and Hilario Davide Jr. — presented their legal interpretations on the disputed voting requirement, a central issue in the ongoing trial.

The appearance of the high-ranking jurists marked the 26th day of proceedings in what has become a closely watched constitutional test of the impeachment process. The voting threshold question has emerged as a potential determining factor in the case.

The trial has drawn intense public and legal attention, with constitutional scholars and legal experts closely monitoring how the Senate impeachment court interprets key procedural and substantive matters. The input of retired justices carries significant weight in such proceedings.

The Senate impeachment court is expected to continue hearing arguments as both the prosecution and defense present their cases on the charges brought against the vice president.