A two-thirds vote of the entire Senate is required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial despite a recent leadership transition in the chamber, Acting Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian clarified on Wednesday, June 10.
“Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution states unequivocally that no person shall be convicted without the occurrence of two-thirds of all the members of the Senate,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
“With the Senate's membership fixed at 24, the conviction threshold is 16 votes, and it will remain 16 votes regardless of how many senators attend the trial, which bloc controls the chamber, or who presides over the impeachment court,” he added.
His remarks came after Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano claimed that the 12-member quorum on June 3 when Gatchalian was elected as acting Senate president could establish a problematic precedent, potentially reducing the legal burden required to convict the Vice President.
Gatchalian announced that the pre-trial conference is scheduled for June 18, with both Duterte's camp and the House prosecution panel required to submit their pre-trial briefs by June 15.
The trial itself is set to begin on July 6.
The Vice President will face multiple impeachment charges, including graft, corruption, bribery, and betrayal of public trust.
A conviction would not only result in her removal, but could also permanently disqualify her from holding public office.
Written by Czairine Quimoyog
Czairine Quimoyog is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
