Sherwin Gatchalian: 16 votes needed to convict VP Sara Duterte

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday said the threshold for convicting Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial remains at 16 votes, despite the ongoing leadership dispute in the Senate.

Gatchalian made the remark following Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s assertion that the June 3 session attended by 12 senators—which elected Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore and designated him acting Senate president—could set a dangerous precedent and potentially lower the threshold needed to convict Duterte.

“Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution states unequivocally that no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate," Gatchalian said in a statement.

"With the Senate’s membership fixed at 24, the conviction threshold is 16 votes, and it will remain 16 votes regardless of how many senators attend the trial, which bloc controls the chamber, or who presides over the impeachment court,” he added.

Duterte is facing impeachment charges over allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes. In May, she was impeached by the House of Representatives for a second time in two years.

On Tuesday, the Senate impeachment court led by Gatchalian directed both the prosecution and the defense to submit their respective lists of witnesses and evidence for the Vice President’s impeachment trial by June 18.

“The process is on track. The rules are clear. And the constitutional threshold—16 votes—will be faithfully observed," he said.

"Malinaw ang Saligang Batas. Ang ating tungkulin ay sundin ang Konstitusyon, at iyon ang aming gagawin,” Gatchalian added.

(The Constitution is clear. Our duty is to follow it, and that is exactly what we will do.)

Meanwhile, the senator said the new Senate majority is still expected to discuss other matters related to the impeachment, including who will serve as presiding officer amid reports that Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is being considered for the role.

On June 3, senators formerly aligned with the minority bloc convened and elected Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore, with those in attendance subsequently designating him as acting Senate president.

However, Cayetano has continued to insist he remains the legitimate leader of the upper chamber.—MCG, GMA News