Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon expressed confidence that legal petitions will be filed with the Supreme Court irrespective of whether the Senate impeachment court determines its conviction threshold based on the full 24-member chamber or strictly on senators physically present during the trial.
Despite earlier statements from impeachment tribunal officials indicating that 16 votes are necessary to secure a conviction against Vice President Sara Duterte, Ridon emphasized that the ultimate benchmark for the required vote tally remains an open constitutional question.
Speaking at a news forum on Saturday, August 22, the lawmaker pointed out that a high court challenge is nearly inevitable regardless of the final calculation used.
“Sa totoo lang naman. Ang expectation natin, whatever the decision may be, malamang may pupunta naman talaga sa Supreme Court, whether we are talking about 16 or we are talking about a lower number,” Ridon said.
“Tingin ko, lagi-lagi may pupunta po sa Korte Suprema, whichever party,” he added.
Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, a official cannot be convicted in an impeachment proceeding without the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members.
Ridon reiterated that the House prosecution panel will yield to the judgment of the senator-judges regarding the voting rule.
Addressing concerns over whether Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, as presiding officer, might insist on the 16-vote standard, Ridon noted that various perspectives have already been publicly communicated.
“May mga statements na po ng mga binanggit. So I think meron position po ang presiding officer, meron din pong paglinaw din po yung tagapagsalita ng court,” Ridon stated. “Pero we will see. Kasi yung bagay na naman po na ’yan ay, I think, hindi pa tapos na tapos na usapin.”