Garin: Impeachment trial voting threshold must exclude absent senators

MANILA, Philippines — Only senators who are capable of performing their duties should be counted in the two-thirds voting threshold required to convict in an impeachment trial, according to House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin. Garin’s statement on Saturday comes ahead of the Senate Impeachment Court’s scheduled oral arguments next week, where prosecution and defense panels will present their arguments. She stressed that senators who are absent or incapacitated should not be included in the voting threshold for conviction. "It is only fair that those who are able to perform their duties and are present to deliberate should be the ones counted," Garin said. The deputy speaker emphasized that impeachment trials are serious matters that require the full attention and deliberation of senators. "We are talking about the removal of a high-ranking official from office, so it is imperative that the voting process is fair and just," she added. Garin’s statement is seen as a response to concerns raised by some quarters about the potential for absent senators to influence the outcome of impeachment trials. It remains to be seen how the Senate Impeachment Court will address this issue, but Garin’s proposal is likely to spark further debate on the rules and procedures governing impeachment proceedings in the Philippines.