Senate warned over revising impeachment vote threshold

MANILA, Philippines - Senators acting as judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte may face legal challenge including criminal cases if they proceed with changing the two-thirds voting requirement for her conviction, according to former presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.

In an interview with The STAR's "Truth on the Line" yesterday, Panelo rejected the position of retired chief justices Hilario Davide Jr., Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno that the 16-vote threshold is not fixed. He said the impeachment court cannot alter the Constitution through its internal rules.

Only retired Supreme Court associate justice Adolfo Azcuna took the contrary position that all 24 senators should be allowed to vote on whether to convict or acquit Duterte.