Senate President Win Gatchalian on Thursday said the Constitution clearly requires a two-thirds vote of all senators to convict an impeached official, as questions continue to surround the Senate’s handling of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Speaking during a press conference, Gatchalian stressed that the constitutional threshold for conviction remains unchanged regardless of debates on Senate procedures.
In the 24-member Senate, at least 16 votes are needed to secure a conviction. If the required number of votes is not reached, the respondent is acquitted.
Gatchalian addressed the issue a day after he was elected Senate president, taking over leadership of the chamber as it prepares for proceedings related to Duterte’s impeachment.
The Senate is expected to tackle organizational and procedural matters before convening as an impeachment court. Under Article XI of the Constitution, the Senate has the sole power to try and decide impeachment cases, with conviction requiring the concurrence of two-thirds of all its members.
The House of Representatives transmitted the articles of impeachment against Duterte to the Senate earlier this year. The vice president has denied the allegations against her and has maintained that the case is politically motivated.
The upcoming impeachment trial is expected to be among the first major matters to be addressed under Gatchalian’s leadership of the Senate.
