Senators Urge Supreme Court to Rule on Impeachment Voting Threshold

MANILA, Philippines – The voting threshold required to convict or acquit Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial has once again become a point of contention, with Senators Raffy Tulfo and JV Ejercito advocating for the Supreme Court (SC) to make the final decision on whether the basis should be 24 senators or a lower number. Both senators expressed their preference for the SC to resolve the issue. "In my opinion, let the Supreme Court decide rather than us," Tulfo stated in a media interview. Ejercito echoed this sentiment, saying, "If it were me, I would have wanted it in the Supreme Court so that we wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. But it depends on what the impeachment court, the judges, want." The debate over the voting threshold was reignited after Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo, brother of Raffy Tulfo, appealed to revisit the ruling by Presiding Officer and Senator-judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero. Escudero's ruling upheld the requirement of 16 votes to convict Duterte. Erwin Tulfo argued that a review might be necessary because three of their colleagues have been unable to physically participate in the proceedings so far. However, acknowledging the "sensitive and serious nature" of the matter, Escudero announced that the impeachment court will seek the opinion of amicus curiae, or "friends of the court," on September 16. This is intended to provide the court with expertise and guidance in resolving the dispute. The court will also hear oral arguments from both the prosecution and the defense on September 23, after which the Senator-judges will vote on whether to overturn Escudero's decision. When Escudero initially made his ruling on July 6, the first day of Duterte's trial, he indicated that any objections could be brought before the SC. At that time, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was already in hiding since May 14, evading an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to alleged crimes against humanity during former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs. Additionally, Senator Jinggoy Estrada was arrested on June 1 for plunder, accused of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects, and was subsequently ordered a 90-day preventive suspension by the Sandiganbayan on June 16. Senator Rodante Marcoleta was also apprehended on July 6, facing plunder charges purportedly linked to an undeclared P75 million campaign donation. Both Marcoleta and Estrada are currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo