Gatchalian: Threshold vote not a preview of Duterte impeachment trial verdict

MANILA — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Thursday the ruling of the impeachment court on the conviction threshold was not a preview of the final vote on the verdict on the guilt or innocence of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“It does not determine the outcome of the trial, and the change applies equally to the votes needed for conviction and for acquittal. Every senator who is able to attend remains duty-bound to do so,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

“Ang aking boto ay batay sa prinsipyo, hindi sa sinumang senador o sa nasasakdal.  The constitutional requirement of two-thirds remains. The question before the Court was which senators are counted in the base when some are unable to participate,” he added. 

Senators on Wednesday voted 13-1, with six abstaining, that the constitutionally required two-thirds guilty verdict by “all members of the Senate” refers only to those “capable of participating”.

At least four senators are absent from the impeachment proceedings.

“Pagdating sa verdict, it’s about the evidence. It’s about the testimonies. It’s about how the prosecution and defense will present their cases. Tandaan natin may defense pa… Ipapakita naman nila na yung, yung walang basis yung mga allegations. So, medyo mahaba pa ito. Merong ilang steps pa para umabot tayo sa botohan,” Gatchalian said in a separate chance interview.

Asked if there were sure votes for conviction among the 13 who approved the threshold revision, Gatchalian said, “Walang sure. Walang sure.”

“Hindi ibig sabihin na yung boto kahapon yun na rin ang maging boto sa conviction. Malayo yun. Depende pa rin yan sa presentation ng evidence. Depende pa rin yan kung anong sasabihin ng mga testigo. So hindi pa yan yung boto para i-convict o hindi pa rin yan yung boto para i-acquit,” he said. 

Duterte’s lawyers can still appeal the lower threshold at the Supreme Court. 

spokesperson Paolo Panelo called Wednesday’s vote an attempt at “changing the constitution”.

“Their aim is to manufacture a conviction. They cannot get 16, so they want to lower (it) to convict VP Sara,” he said.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on May 11 on allegations of graft, corruption, bribery and an alleged assassination plot against one-time ally President Ferdinand Marcos.

Should the Senate find her guilty, she will be stripped of the vice presidency and permanently barred from elected office.

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are detained for separate plunder cases, while Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa is hiding while sought on an International Criminal Court warrant. 

Sen. Loren Legarda is on medical leave. 

— Report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News and Agence France-Presse