FACT CHECK: Lacson quote on 14-vote threshold for VP Sara impeachment is fake

A fake claim circulating on Philippine social media alleges that Senator Panfilo Lacson called for lowering the impeachment conviction threshold for Vice President Sara Duterte from 16 to 14 votes. Rappler has fact-checked this claim and rated it as FALSE. The post, which has garnered over 1,600 reactions and 500 comments on Facebook, features a supposed quote from Lacson stating, “Ibaba sa 14 ‘votes’ para sa impeachment ni VP Sara.” (Reduce the number of votes needed to convict VP Sara to 14.) However, Lacson clarified on July 11 that he agrees with the pronouncement of Senate President and trial presiding officer Chiz Escudero, who set the conviction threshold at 16 votes. According to Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution, conviction of an impeachable official requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all the members of the Senate. Escudero cited the 2000 Supreme Court ruling in Bayan v. Zamora, interpreting the Senate's composition of 24 members, thus requiring 16 votes for conviction. Lacson had sought clarification from Escudero on whether the pronouncement was a legal opinion or a ruling by the impeachment court, with Escudero confirming it as a ruling. Both senators indicated that any party disagreeing with the decision could elevate the issue to the Supreme Court. Lacson also stressed the importance of settling the voting threshold issue early in the trial to prevent legal complications as the judgment nears. The issue of the voting threshold arose after some legal experts and the prosecution suggested that the two-thirds threshold should apply to the 21 senators currently able to participate in the trial, which would translate to 14 required votes. This discussion occurred amidst the arrest of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta for plunder cases and an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is reportedly in hiding. Vice President Duterte is the first public official to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. The impeachment articles against her include alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education officials, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. Her impeachment trial is currently in its second week, with expected appearances from the Office of the Vice President chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, and chief Melvin Matibag. Rappler has previously debunked several other false claims related to Duterte's impeachment trial, including claims about Marcos orders to stop proceedings, Sotto's statements on vote counts, the dismissal of her impeachment case, the legality of photocopied peso bills, and the OVP's unmodified opinion from the COA. Source: Rappler Philippines