Constitution doesn't say impeach vote threshold is 16 votes: expert | DZMM TeleRadyo

The 1987 Constitution does not say that 16 votes are needed to convict an impeachable official before the Senate impeachment court. This is the opinion of Atty. Domingo Egon Cayosa, former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, ahead of the September 16 hearing of the impeachment court on the impeachment voting threshold. Cayosa said the two-thirds refers to all the members of the Senate who are sitting as an impeachment court. “Wala nakalagay sa Constitution na absolute number na 16,” he said. He noted that fairness also dictates that detained senators such as Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta should be allowed to vote if they are able to review all the material presented in the impeachment trial and if they are allowed to participate in the actual vote. If a senator-judge who participated in the trial suddenly falls ill and cannot vote at the end of the trial, his or her vote is automatically for acquittal since a “silent vote” is considered a “no.” #DomingoEgonCayosa #ImpeachmentTrial #SenateImpeachmentCourt #PhilippineSenate #ConstitutionalLaw #SupremeCourtPH #IBP #ImpeachmentThreshold #LegalAnalysis #PhilippinePolitics #DueProcess #AmiciCuriae #PHNews #ANC #CurrentAffairs