The Supreme Court has directed the Senate Impeachment Court and the House of Representatives to comment within five days on a petition challenging the revised voting threshold for convicting Vice President Sara Duterte in an impeachment trial.
The petition was filed Oct. 1 by Sen. Robin Padilla, Sen. Bong Go, lawyer Israelito Torreon and other petitioners.
Those ordered to comment include Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, House Speaker Bojie Dy, Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero and the prosecution panel.
The petition challenges the Senate impeachment court’s Sept. 23 decision to change how the two-thirds vote required to convict Duterte would be calculated.
The petitioners argue that all incumbent Senate members should be counted when determining the number of votes needed for conviction. They are asking the Supreme Court to invalidate the revised interpretation and restore the 16-vote requirement.
The dispute centers on the voting threshold that would apply if the impeachment proceedings against Duterte reach a conviction vote.
Torreon welcomed the Supreme Court’s action, saying it showed that the legal issue raised by the petitioners deserved immediate attention.
The court’s directive requires the respondents to submit their comments within five days. It does not, by itself, resolve the dispute over how the required votes should be counted.
Further developments will depend on the Supreme Court’s consideration of the petition and the respondents’ arguments.
