Senate vote threshold ruling questioned anew in SC by Duterte allies

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate ruling that reduced the required number of votes in convicting or acquitting Vice President Sara Duterte is being challenged again in the Supreme Court, this time by her allies, Sens. Robinhood Padilla and Christopher “Bong” Go, and the political party of her father.

The petition for certiorari and prohibition was filed by Padilla, Go, and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) before the Supreme Court on Sept. 29, a day before the high tribunal dismissed the three earlier petitions that also questioned the Senate ruling that lowered the required votes in the impeachment trial of Duterte.

“Petitioners seek a narrow remedy. The trial may proceed. What must be restrained is the application of an unconstitutional denominator, including any proceeding to exclude sitting senators from it,” they said in the 106-page petition.

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READ: SC junks 3 petitions vs impeach court-2/3-ruling

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They pointed out that 24 remained the total headcount of the Senate sitting as an impeachment trial as no senator has vacated his or her seat due to death, resignation, forfeiture or cancellation.

“The Constitution does not count only the Senators it finds convenient. It says ‘all,’ and ‘all has never meant ‘some.’ Two-thirds of twenty-four is sixteen,” they said, referring to the two-thirds threshold mandated under the 1987 Constitution.

“It asks the Court to count, and in counting, to remind every branch of government that the Constitution is not suspended when it becomes inconvenient,” they added. /mr