The Manila Times

Gatchalian: 16-vote rule fixed

ACTING Senate President and Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian said on Wednesday that the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds vote to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial remains fixed at 16 votes and cannot be altered by any Senate leadership arrangement, political alignment or attendance level during the proceedings. Gatchalian issued the statement amid discussions surrounding Senate leadership dynamics and their possible impact on the impeachment process. “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. 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,” Gatchalian said. Under the Constitution, the Senate sits as an impeachment court when trying impeachment cases, with senators serving as judges. A conviction requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all members of the Senate, while an acquittal would result if the prosecution fails to secure the required number of votes. The Senate has scheduled a pretrial conference on June 18, during which procedural matters and evidentiary issues will be addressed. Both the Duterte defense team and the House of Representatives prosecution panel have been directed to submit their respective pretrial briefs by June 15. The trial proper is set to begin on July 6, 2026, marking the next major phase in the historic impeachment proceedings against the vice president. Gatchalian emphasized that preparations for the trial are proceeding according to schedule and in accordance with established constitutional and procedural rules. “The process is on track. The rules are clear. And the constitutional threshold — 16 votes — will be faithfully observed. The Constitution is clear. Our duty is to follow the Constitution, and that is what we will do,” he said.

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