Senator Lacson asks if the 16 votes needed to impeach VP is a 'binding ruling' or 'legal opinion'

Senator-judge Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Tuesday sought clarification on whether the 16-vote threshold for convicting Vice President Sara Duterte is merely the presiding officer's legal opinion or an official ruling of the impeachment court.

During the second day of Duterte's impeachment trial, Lacson raised a point of inquiry regarding an earlier statement by Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero, who said a literal reading of the Constitution's two-thirds voting requirement means that at least 16 senator-judges must vote to convict.

“My point of inquiry, Mr. Presiding Officer, is, is this portion of your opening statement a matter of legal opinion on your part as presiding officer, or does it constitute a ruling by the impeachment court?” Lacson asked.

He also asked whether treating the matter as a ruling would make it a justiciable issue that could be reviewed by the Supreme Court should either the prosecution or defense question it on the ground of grave abuse of discretion.

Responding to the inquiry, Escudero said his pronouncement already constitutes a ruling of the chair because no member of the impeachment court objected to or appealed it.

“So to clarify, yes, I believe it may be considered already as a justiciable controversy, although it is not for us to dictate that but the courts. Given that it is a ruling of the chair, not objected to nor appealed by any member of this court, and therefore stands,” Escudero explained.

In his acceptance speech after he was elected as presiding officer, Escudero ruled that conviction strictly requires at least 16 affirmative votes, affirming that the constitutional two-thirds requirement applies literally to the full 24-member Senate composition.

-Paraluman News