Who are the retired justices tapped to advise impeachment court on voting threshold?
The Philippine Senate impeachment court is consulting retired Supreme Court justices to determine the voting threshold for Vice President Sara Duterte's trial. The court is debating whether to maintain a 16-vote requirement or adjust it due to the absence of several senator-judges.
Why it matters
The interpretation of the constitutional voting threshold is a pivotal legal question that will directly determine the outcome of the impeachment proceedings.
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Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo raised a critical question during Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial regarding whether the voting threshold for acquittal or conviction should remain at 24 despite the absence of some senator-judges. The impeachment court is set to hear opinions from four retired Supreme Court justices on this constitutional issue, with the presentation scheduled for September 16 and a vote expected on September 23. The legal experts were chosen for their credentials, including their roles in drafting the 1987 Constitution and their experience as former chief justices, to help clarify the interpretation of the voting threshold in the impeachment process. This is AI-generated.
On Day 23 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo posed a looming question that could ultimately determine how the Senate impeachment court will deliver its verdict.
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