Alan Peter Cayetano says he, others will not participate in vote on threshold

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, hinted that his bloc would not participate if the question of the conviction threshold is brought to a vote.

Cayetano, in a manifestation, said that he was speaking only for himself but believes other members feel the same way, stressed he does not believe the Senate or the impeachment court has the power to decide on it.

“If we’re going to vote on this issue, we’re not going to participate,” he said.

“You don’t taste poison,” he also said as he said that he believes the court cannot change the interpretation that a conviction would need a two thirds majority of all members.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo on September 8 raised the question of whether the current threshold of 16 still holds.

He said circumstances have changed with the detention and subsequent suspension of Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, who are facing graft cases.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, subject of an International Criminal Court warrant, has not attended sessions and Sen. Loren Legarda is on extended medical leave abroad.

“My question is, are we going to allow them to vote? Are we going to accept their votes even though they’re not attending this trial or is it automatic to say their votes will be ‘no’?” he said then.

Cayetano and his sister Sen. Pia Cayetano have described the legal challenges their colleagues are facing as attempts to intimidate and influence the impeachment court.

Minority Leader Cayetano raised a point of order questioning the legality of voting on the threshold, but the motion was lost in a 13-6-1 vote.

The Senate impeachment court later voted to adopt a flexible threshold of two thirds of all members actually present and able to vote when decision to acquit or convict comes.

The ruling was carried with 13 affirmative votes and a ‘no’ vote from Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the court’s presiding officer. 

Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla and Camille Villar did not participate in voting. — Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News