THE Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday dismissed three petitions challenging the Senate impeachment court’s interpretation of the constitutional two-thirds voting requirement for convicting Vice President Sara Duterte, allowing the impeachment trial to proceed under the adjusted threshold.
The petitions were filed by former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez and lawyers Berteni Cataluña Causing and Ernesto B. Francisco Jr.
The SC en banc rejected the challenges on procedural grounds, including lack of legal standing and prematurity. The High Court has yet to release the full text of its decision.
The petitions sought to overturn the Senate impeachment court’s Sept. 23 ruling that the constitutional requirement of two-thirds of “all the Members of the Senate” refers to senators who are legally and factually capable of participating when the final judgment is rendered.
The issue arose after four senator-judges became unable to participate in the proceedings. Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are detained, Ronald dela Rosa has not appeared publicly while reportedly being sought under an International Criminal Court warrant, and Loren Legarda is undergoing medical treatment abroad.
The impeachment court earlier voted 13-1, with six abstentions, to reject a fixed 16-vote requirement based on all 24 senators and instead apply the two-thirds threshold to senators capable of participating in the proceedings.
The House prosecution panel welcomed the SC decision, saying it removes a legal obstacle and allows the three-month-old trial to continue.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said the impeachment court should now be allowed to complete the proceedings and render a judgment based on the evidence.
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said the prosecution had maintained that the voting-threshold issue was not yet justiciable and that bringing it before the SC was premature.
Senate impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol said the dismissal affirmed the tribunal’s interpretation and protected its independence from outside legal challenges.
With the petitions dismissed, prosecutors said they will focus on presenting evidence and examining witnesses as the impeachment court moves toward a final verdict on whether Duterte should be convicted or acquitted.