Second legal challenge to VP Duterte impeachment voting threshold filed at SC

MANILA — Another legal challenge to the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte has reached the Supreme Court, with attorneys filing a 112-page petition to nullify a September 23, 2026 ruling by the Senate Impeachment Court.

Atty. Ernesto Francisco Jr. filed the petition contesting the amended voting threshold established by the Senate Impeachment Court for conviction in the VP's impeachment case. The filing represents the second major legal challenge to the procedural changes governing the high-profile impeachment proceedings.

The petition requests that the Supreme Court issue a Status Quo Ante Order to immediately halt further proceedings under the amended voting rules. Such an order would restore the situation to its condition before the September 23 ruling took effect.

The development adds another layer of legal complexity to the ongoing impeachment case, which has drawn considerable attention given the political significance of the Office of the Vice President. The SC is expected to determine whether the Senate Impeachment Court had authority to modify voting thresholds and whether the procedural changes comply with constitutional requirements.

The timing and substance of the petition underscores the contentious nature of the impeachment process, with multiple parties challenging the procedural framework governing the proceedings against the Vice President.