Lacson: Supreme Court should settle Duterte impeachment vote issue

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June 19, 2026 | 7:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ping Lacson said the Supreme Court should step in if asked to settle how many Senate votes are needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial, warning that the proceedings could otherwise end in a foregone acquittal.

Lacson said the trial would still proceed despite the unresolved question over the vote threshold. But he said the issue should be settled because the constitutional requirement may be difficult to apply if not all 24 elected senators can participate and vote.

"Sabi ko nga, kung for formality na lang ang acquittal bakit pa tayo magta-trial? D'yan dapat mag-intervene ang Korte Suprema kung ire-raise," Lacson told dzBB on Thursday, June 18.

(I said, if the acquittal is only for formality, why would we still proceed with the trial? That is where the Supreme Court should intervene if the issue is raised.)

Lacson said it would be better for the high court to interpret the rule so senators sitting as impeachment judges would not be accused of political maneuvering.

"Sa akin, kung ako ang tatanungin, mas mainam nang sila ang mag-interpret niyan. Dahil kung kami, makukwestyon," Lacson said.

(For me, if I were asked, it would be better for them to interpret it. Because if we do it, we will be questioned.)

Duterte's impeachment trial is set to begin on July 6.

### Vote threshold question

The 1987 Constitution provides that no person may be convicted in an impeachment trial without the concurrence of two-thirds of all members of the Senate. With 24 senators, that threshold is typically understood as 16 votes.

Lacson said the issue is whether that base number should still apply if some senators cannot participate in the trial.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has been preventively suspended from his Senate duties, while Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court and has been in hiding.

"Kung sino lang ang present, iyon lang ang pwedeng mag-participate," Lacson said, while noting that the base number for the two-thirds vote remains debatable. (Only those who are present can participate.)

Lacson said the trial would lose meaning if the disputed vote threshold effectively makes acquittal automatic.

### Trial preparations

Lacson also clarified that senator-judges have yet to formally discuss who will preside over the impeachment trial when the Senate impeachment court reconvenes on July 6.

He earlier said Sen. Chiz Escudero was being eyed by the majority bloc as presiding officer.

Duterte's camp and the House prosecution panel are at the Senate on Thursday, June 18, for the pretrial conference, where stipulation of facts, witnesses and other trial matters are expected to be discussed. The Philippine News Agency earlier reported that House prosecutors had filed their pretrial brief ahead of the June 18 conference.

Duterte faces allegations of graft and corruption, unexplained wealth, bribery and grave threats. She has denied wrongdoing.