With an incomplete roster of senator-judges participating in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, some senators looking at the possibility of lowering the 16-vote threshold to either convict or acquit the vice president, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Thursday.
When Duterte’s impeachment trial commenced on July 6, three senator-judges were already unable to participate, but the Senate impeachment court ruled that the two-thirds vote required to make a final ruling on the vice president’s case would be maintained.
Twenty-one trial days have lapsed since the ruling was made, and Zubiri admitted that some of his colleagues are concerned about the voting threshold.
‘There were some colleagues who would like to revisit the threshold… dahil kasi may mga nasa kulungan at isa pugante-at-large,’ Zubiri told the media.
(There were some colleagues who would like to revisit the threshold… because there are some in prison and one is a fugitive-at-large.)
‘I think some of them have concerns about the threshold. So the best way to do that is to debate about it and seek a ruling from the presiding officer,’ Zubiri added.
Moreover, Zubiri did not dismiss the possibility that senators may take up the matter to the Supreme Court.
When presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero announced the court’s ruling on the voting threshold, he also reminded that those who disagree with the 16-vote rule may seek judicial relief through the high court
Asked whether some senators hoped that there would be a ruling on lowering the voting threshold, Zubiri answered in the affirmative.
Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa has been on the run since May 14 from his arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity issued by the International Criminal Court.
Meanwhile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was placed on a 90-day preventive suspension on June 16 by the Sandiganbayan after his arrest on June 1 for plunder.
Likewise, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was arrested for plunder on July 6.
In August, Sen. Loren Legarda failed to attend the impeachment proceedings after taking consecutive medical leaves. Zubiri, and previously Sen. Panfilo Lacson, said that Legarda is facing a ‘serious’ medical condition.