Sara Duterte camp warns lower impeachment threshold could expose senators to government pressure

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 16, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Maria Tan

The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte is warning that lowering the Senate’s impeachment conviction threshold could expose senator-judges to possible pressure or targeting by the government.

The warning comes as the Senate impeachment court considers whether the constitutional requirement of two-thirds of all senators should remain at 16 votes or be adjusted because several members of the 24-member Senate are currently unable to participate in the trial. The issue is expected to be addressed as the court weighs legal opinions on the matter.

Duterte’s camp has argued that changing the threshold could create a precedent that may affect senators in future impeachment proceedings. The defense has particularly raised concerns that a lower threshold could make senators more vulnerable to government pressure when deciding whether to convict or acquit an impeached official.

The dispute centers on how to interpret the Constitution’s requirement that an impeachment conviction needs the concurrence of two-thirds of all members of the Senate. With several senators absent, detained or otherwise unable to vote, legal experts have offered differing interpretations of whether those senators should still be included in determining the required number of votes.

The Senate impeachment court has sought guidance from former Supreme Court justices serving as amici curiae, including retired Chief Justices Artemio Panganiban, Reynato Puno and Hilario Davide Jr., and retired Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna. Their views are intended to help the senator-judges resolve the constitutional question before the voting stage.

The threshold debate adds another layer to an already closely watched impeachment trial, where the final outcome could depend not only on the evidence presented but also on how the Senate determines the number of votes required for a conviction.

For Duterte’s defense, however, the issue goes beyond the immediate trial. The camp says the interpretation adopted by the Senate could have long-term implications for the independence of senators and future impeachment proceedings.