Puno: 16-Vote Conviction Threshold Not Fixed

3 ex-SC justices tell impeachment court: Conviction threshold not fixed at 16

A lower threshold for the number of senators the prosecution must persuade would increase the chances of Sara Duterte being removed from office

Puno: 16-vote conviction threshold not fixed

MANILA, Philippines — Retired chief justice Reynato Puno said the 16-vote threshold for conviction in an impeachment trial should not be treated as fixed as the Constitution does not explicitly fix the number of votes needed for a conviction.Speaking as an amicus curiae or friend of the Senate Impeachment Court, Puno said that the Constitution requires two-thirds of all Senate members, arguing that the number of votes may change depending on cir…

For ex-CJ Davide, 16 votes not necessarily required to convict Sara Duterte

Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. argued that the two-thirds impeachment threshold should be based only on senators qualified and able to vote.

Amici curiae or “Friends of the Court’ enter VP Sara impeachment debate over conviction threshold

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer September 16, 2026 Four former Supreme Court justices are taking part in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings as amici curiae, or “friends of the court,” […]

Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 16, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Four retired Supreme Court justices will appear before the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday, Day 26 of the impeachment trial, as senator-judges revisit the number of votes needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte. Retired Chief Justices Artemio Panganiban, Reynato Puno and Hilario Davide Jr., along with retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna, will serve as amici curiae or friends of the court. READ: Highlights: D…

Sara Duterte impeachment trial Day 26: What to expect

Legal luminaries will take center stage on Wednesday not as witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, but as amici curiae, or friends of the court, who will help resolve questions on the conviction vote threshold.