A suspended senator cannot take part or vote in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, but the constitutional requirement of 16 votes for conviction remains unchanged, House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry L. Ridon said over the weekend.
“My understanding is not just for a senator, but for all members po whether House or Senate pagka ho suspended, you cannot participate in any committee proceedings and you cannot participate in plenary proceedings,” Ridon said.
“Ang ibig sabihin po noon syempre if you cannot speak, you also cannot vote,” added Ridon, who chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts.
Ridon, however, emphasized that any suspension would not reduce the number of votes required under the Constitution to convict an impeachable official. A conviction still needs the support of two-thirds of the 24-member Senate, or 16 votes.
“Whoever it is, parang personality blind po, basta hindi mo abot ‘yung 16, you cannot convict,” Ridon, a lawyer, said.
“So, yun pong suspension basically does not actually impact ‘yung conviction po ng any impeachable official.”
He said the House prosecution panel would still have to secure 16 votes to convict Duterte regardless of how many senators may be suspended.
“Hindi ho nagbabago ‘yung threshold vote na kailangan po to convict an impeachable official, so 16 pa rin po ‘yun ang kailangan pong boto to convict,” he said.
The House of Representatives earlier impeached Duterte over allegations involving the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
The Articles of Impeachment have already been transmitted to the Senate, which is expected to sit as an impeachment court.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said the chamber would proceed “forthwith” with the constitutional process and convene the impeachment court on Monday, May 18.