Politics · Philippines Bureau
Senate votes to lower conviction threshold in Duterte impeachment trial
The Senate impeachment court has voted to change how the two-thirds majority requirement is calculated in Vice President Sara Duterte's trial, potentially making conviction easier to achieve. The 13-1 decision on Day 29 of the proceedings adopted a motion to reconsider the threshold calculation methodology.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA – The Senate impeachment court has voted overwhelmingly to modify the conviction threshold in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, marking a significant procedural development in the high-profile case. The court voted 13 to 1 on Monday to adopt Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo's motion to reconsider how the two-thirds majority requirement is calculated.
Under the revised methodology, the denominator for calculating the two-thirds threshold will be based on the number of senators present and voting, rather than the total number of senators in the chamber. This change could lower the vote count required for conviction, as it removes absent senators from the calculation.
The decision came after weeks of testimony and arguments in the trial, which centers on charges related to the Vice President's conduct. The modification to voting procedures represents a turning point in the proceedings, which have drawn significant public attention and scrutiny.
Vice President Duterte has denied the charges against her. The revised conviction threshold is expected to influence the final outcome of the trial as it moves toward a conclusion.