Supreme Court clears way for Duterte impeachment trial under new voting rules

MANILA — The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected three petitions that sought to overturn the Senate impeachment court's September 23 decision to reduce the number of votes required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, paving the way for her trial to resume under the modified voting standard.

The high court, sitting en banc, dismissed the legal challenges without elaborating on its reasoning, according to court announcements. The decision effectively validates the Senate impeachment court's earlier ruling that changed the conviction threshold from a two-thirds majority to a simple majority of votes.

The petitions had argued that the lower voting requirement violated constitutional provisions governing impeachment proceedings. With the Supreme Court's dismissal of these challenges, procedural obstacles to continuing Duterte's trial have been substantially cleared.

The impeachment case against the Vice President had faced mounting legal and procedural hurdles since its filing. The Supreme Court's decision to reject the challenges signals judicial acceptance of the Senate impeachment court's authority to modify its own procedural rules, allowing the trial to advance under the newly established voting parameters.

Duterte, who has faced calls for her removal amid rising political tensions, now faces trial under a standard that requires fewer votes for conviction. The court's action removes a significant legal bottleneck that had delayed proceedings in the high-profile case.