SC not to decide on impeachment voting threshold, says Panganiban

MANILA, Philippines – Retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban said Wednesday that the Supreme Court (SC) cannot decide on the impeachment voting threshold for Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial, especially with three senator-judges absent from all proceedings. Panganiban made the statement in response to Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo’s request for the amici curiae to weigh in on the voting threshold. The impeachment proceedings in the Philippines are governed by the Constitution and the rules of Congress. The interpretation of how impeachment trials should proceed and what constitutes the voting threshold is generally considered to be within the authority of the Senate. Historically, the Supreme Court's direct involvement in determining the voting threshold for impeachment has been limited. Panganiban's remarks suggest that such legal ambiguities or procedural issues should be resolved within the legislative branch rather than by the judiciary. This issue could become a point of contention regarding the number of votes required to remove the Vice President from office. If senators are absent, the calculation of the required majority for impeachment could be debated. The former Chief Justice's position implies that the Senate itself should address and decide on these matters pertaining to its impeachment trial procedures.