FACT: Sen. Robin Padilla and Bong Go petitioned to return to the 16-vote threshold

The lowered 16-vote threshold to 14 votes for the conviction in the VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial led Padilla and Go to firmly urge the Supreme Court (SC) to reinstate the rigid two-thirds of all 24 senators.

CLAIM:

Along with Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) petitioners, Padilla and Go asked the SC to bring the 24 senators as a mere basis for the two-thirds—challenging the Senate impeachment court’s ruling that uses “legally and factually capable of participating” senators as the basis for the 16-vote. 

RATING: FACT

CONCLUSION:

While the Senate impeachment court already voted and approved this lowered requirement, where present and able to participate senators are the only ones allowed to vote in the impeachment—opposition from Senators Padilla and Go arises.

THE FACTS:

• The petitioners used Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution, which says, “No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the members of the Senate,” arguing that the 16-vote threshold must be fixed.
• Padilla and Go argued that what the Constitution says is not something that can just be neglected by such an ordinary majority vote in a court.

THE BOTTOMLINE:

Duterte’s allies, led by Padilla and Go, have appealed the changed requirement number of votes to convict Duterte.