Sara Duterte impeachment threshold lowered by Senate

The Philippine Senate approved a lower vote threshold Wednesday for convicting Vice President Sara Duterte at her impeachment trial, a ruling that could make it easier to remove her from office.

Senators voted 13-1, with six Duterte allies abstaining, that the constitution's requirement for a two-thirds guilty verdict by “all members of the Senate” applies only to those capable of participating.

Presiding judge Senator Francis Escudero said the decision lowers the number of guilty votes needed from 16 to 14 and will be treated as the controlling ruling. Escudero cast the only vote against the measure but said he was bound to give it effect.

Duterte defence counsel Michael Poa said her lawyers accepted the decision but did not waive their right to appeal to the Supreme Court. Vice presidential spokesperson Paolo Panelo accused senators of trying to “manufacture a conviction”.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on May 11 on allegations of graft, corruption, bribery and an alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos. If the Senate finds her guilty, she will be removed as vice president and permanently barred from elected office.

At least four senators loyal to Duterte are absent from the proceedings, including two now in jail. Marcos has repeatedly denied influencing the impeachment process.