Chiz Escudero Explains Two-Thirds Vote Calculation for Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Wednesday explained the computation for the two-thirds vote needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte. Escudero clarified the voting threshold after the Senate court approved a motion by Senator Erwin Tulfo to lower the requirement, given that four of the 24 senator-judges have been constantly absent from the proceedings. According to Escudero, the total number of senators qualified to vote for the conviction or acquittal of Duterte will be determined by excluding those who fall under specific circumstances, such as those whose absence might affect the outcome based on previous rulings. "The impeachment court shall determine on the basis of competent and sufficient evidence whether a member falls within any of the five circumstances mentioned in the new controlling ruling. The remaining members shall then constitute the denominator from which the required two thirds concurrence shall be computed," Escudero said. When the computation of two-thirds results in a fraction, Escudero said the number of votes required for conviction will be rounded up to the next higher whole number, even if the fraction is less than 0.5. For example, if the denominator is 20, two thirds is 13.33. Since a fraction of a senator is impossible, the threshold would be rounded up to 14 votes to ensure it constitutes at least two-thirds of the relevant membership. Escudero also stressed that this lowered threshold is applicable only for Duterte's impeachment trial, as a decision of an impeachment court does not bind future impeachment courts. "This ruling and interpretation of the court shall operate pro hac vice, or for this occasion only. It shall not constitute a binding precedent in any future impeachment proceedings," he added. The Constitution, Article 11, Section 6, states that "no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate." Among the absent senator-judges are Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, who are detained on plunder and related charges. Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa is currently unavailable amid a standing warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court. Senator Loren Legarda is on an extended medical leave abroad. Source: GMA News Philippines