PGMN Anchor Atty. Rowena Guanzon, one of the country’s prominent legal figures, analyzes Sen. Chiz Escudero’s role as presiding officer in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial and the constitutionality of the court’s 14-vote threshold in a new PGMN episode: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1607751454222615/…
A disagreement over whether 16 or 14 Senate votes are required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte has sparked debate over constitutional interpretation and due process in her impeachment trial.
The Constitution requires a two-thirds vote of all Senate members to convict. Escudero initially ruled that 16 votes were necessary, based on the Senate’s 24-member composition. However, the chamber later adopted a 14-vote threshold, with Escudero casting the lone dissenting vote against the new rule.
While Guanzon acknowledged that the role of presiding officer is “highly polarized,” she disagreed with Escudero’s decision to rule on Senator Erwin Tulfo’s belated motion for reconsideration, which allowed senator-judges to vote on the threshold. Despite this, she said Escudero has been ruling fairly.
“I have no doubt that he is ruling in accordance with the rules of the impeachment and the rules of court,” she said.
Guanzon also raised questions about Escudero’s handling of the prosecution’s questioning and noted that, although he has sided with the majority on some matters, he has not supported it in every vote, including the decision to lower the impeachment conviction threshold.
Four senators have been absent: Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, detained on plunder and related charges; Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, away amid an ICC warrant; and Sen. Loren Legarda, on extended medical leave for a lung ailment. With only 20 senators counted, conviction now requires 14 votes instead of 16.
With Sen. Mark Villar joining the majority, Atty. Guanzon pointed to Escudero’s potential influence on the outcome of the trial, asking,
“Who’s going to be the 14th vote?”
Guanzon said the impeachment trial ultimately distracts from the country’s broader corruption problems, including the flood-control scandal. She described the proceedings as a political move aimed at disqualifying Duterte from the 2028 presidential election, in which the vice president is a leading potential contender.
“So, fellow countrymen, don’t forget that the number one problem of our country is corruption,” she said.
“And this impeachment trial is a big distraction not only for us Filipinos and taxpayers, but also for senators.”
