Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Senators formally convene as an impeachment court to try the complaints filed against Vice President Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on May 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP SARA IMPEACHMENT

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA &ndash; The prosecution in Vice President Sara Duterte&rsquo;s impeachment trial is not counting votes in the Senate, saying it is instead focused on building an &ldquo;airtight&rdquo; case that can meet whatever conviction threshold the impeachment court ultimately adopts.</p><p>Private prosecutor Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said Saturday the prosecution has yet to take an official position on proposals to revisit the 16 votes currently required to convict Duterte.</p><p>&ldquo;We never engage in vote counting,&rdquo; Tolosa told the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.</p><p>&ldquo;Talagang ang focus namin magpresenta ng matibay na ebidensya para kung ano ang magiging interpretasyon sa two-thirds requirement na yan, kung 16 o mas mababa, whatever it is, gusto namin masigurado na makukuha namin ang numero na yan sa pamamagitan ng paglatag ng matibay na ebidensya,&rdquo; he added.</p><p>The Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members to convict an impeached official. Presiding Officer Senate President Francis &ldquo;Chiz&rdquo; Escudero had interpreted this as requiring 16 votes in the 24-member Senate.</p><p>But Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said some senators wanted the threshold revisited because several members may not be able to participate in the proceedings.</p><p>Tolosa said there are competing interpretations of the two-thirds requirement. One based on the full membership of the Senate regardless of attendance, and another questioning whether senators who have not taken their oath as impeachment judges or participated in the trial should be counted.</p><p>He said the prosecution understands both positions but is not yet prepared to declare which interpretation it supports.</p><p>&ldquo;But we get ang dalawang sides pero sa ngayon hindi pa panahon para sabihin ng prosecution kung ano ang official stand namin on the matter,&rdquo; Tolosa said.</p><p>&ldquo;If and when we&rsquo;re required to do so, we&rsquo;ll be ready to present our position on it,&rdquo; he added.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>&lsquo;AIRTIGHT&rsquo; CASE&nbsp;</strong></div><p>For now, Tolosa said the prosecution will continue presenting evidence before the Senate, regardless of how the voting issue develops.</p><p>&ldquo;Again as we&rsquo;ve stated, to establish an airtight case para kahit ano ang maging interpretation &lsquo;yan we&rsquo;ll meet it,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>Tolosa earlier said the prosecution was likewise not yet taking a position on reports that it may drop one of the impeachment articles against Duterte, including the allegation of bribery.</p><p>He said the prosecution would wait until any such move is formally raised during the proceedings before responding.</p><p>If an article is formally withdrawn, Tolosa&rsquo;s earlier comments indicated that the trial could move faster because both sides would no longer need to present evidence on that particular allegation.</p><p>The prosecution has previously said it wants to complete its presentation by October, although the trial schedule remains subject to the Senate&rsquo;s proceedings.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/4/best-for-sc-to-rule-on-impeachment-conviction-threshold-ejercito-1621">Best for SC to rule on impeachment conviction threshold&ndash;Ejercito</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/2/house-prosecution-no-move-yet-to-lower-16-vote-threshold-1758">House prosecution: No move yet to lower 16-vote threshold</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/5/arrest-warrant-vs-sara-duterte-not-finding-of-guilt-defense-1044">Arrest warrant vs. Sara Duterte not finding of guilt&mdash;defense</a></div>

<p>MANILA – The prosecution in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial is not counting votes in the Senate, saying it is instead focused on building an “airtight” case that can meet whatever conviction threshold the impeachment court ultimately adopts.</p>

MANILA – The prosecution in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial is not counting votes in the Senate, saying it is instead focused on building an “airtight” case that can meet whatever conviction threshold the impeachment court ultimately adopts.

Prosecution says not counting Senate votes, focused on ‘airtight’ case

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Prosecution says not counting Senate votes, focused on ‘airtight’ case

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 05, 2026 02:58 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Threshold

Senate

Duterte impeachment

impeachment trial

prosecution

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