Former Senate President Franklin Drilon on Saturday pressed the Supreme Court to immediately settle the debate surrounding the exact number of votes required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her active impeachment trial.
During a radio interview, Drilon emphasized that the high tribunal needs to issue a definitive interpretation of the constitutional threshold before the trial concludes to prevent potential chaos.
“Ultimately, ang Korte Suprema ang siyang magpapasya kung ano ba talaga ang kailangan na numero,” Drilon said.
“Ngayon pa lang ay dapat desisyunan na ng Korte Suprema dahil sa kapag doon sa dulo, baka magkagulo,” he added.
The veteran lawmaker advised either the Senate leadership or the Vice President’s defense team to formally approach the judiciary for immediate clarification on how to compute the mandatory two-thirds vote, especially given the current vacancy of three sitting senators.
“Sabihing ‘hinihingi namin ang opinyon ng Korte Suprema alin ba ang tama dito, saan ba pagbabasihan ang two-thirds?,’” Drilon said.
The controversy sparked after Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, serving as the impeachment court’s presiding officer, maintained that 16 affirmative votes are strictly necessary for a conviction.
Escudero’s ruling relies on the standard interpretation of two-thirds of the full 24-member chamber.
Conversely, multiple constitutional legal experts contend that the benchmark should be adjusted downward because three lawmakers are logistically barred from participating.
Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada are currently detained without bail over separate plunder charges, while Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is reportedly in hiding following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the previous administration’s anti-drug operations.