Philippines impeachment: is path now clear to convict Sara Duterte?

The Philippine Senate has made it mathematically easier to convict Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, but observers said the ruling could intensify a battle over an impeachment trial already viewed by the public as deeply divisive.

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, ruled on Wednesday that only senator-judges who are able to take part in the trial should be counted in determining the threshold for conviction.

Under the Philippine constitution, a two-thirds vote of the Senate is required to convict an impeached official.

Four senator-judges have been unable to regularly take part in the trial: Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada are detained over plunder cases; Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is at large, wanted on an International Criminal Court arrest warrant; and Loren Legarda is abroad on extended medical leave.