Palace to leave issue of voting threshold in Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial to Senate

September 16, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Malacañang on Wednesday said it will leave the issue of the voting threshold for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said the Palace will not issue an opinion on the voting threshold – if it should be based on all 24 senators or only those qualified to participate in the impeachment proceedings.

“Sa parte po ng Pangulo, hindi po kami magbibigay ng anumang opinyon, ng anumang judgment patungkol po diyan,” Castro said.

In a press briefing, she went on: “Hahayaan po natin ang Senado na siyang mag-determine kung ano sa palagay nila ang nararapat.”

This was amid the statements of former Supreme Court justices on the issue.

Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not interfere in determining the voting threshold.

“Kung ano po ang magiging threshold, hindi po makikialam ang Pangulo patungkol diyan,” she said.

The conviction threshold is now the subject of discussion given that some senators missed majority of the trial.

These senators are Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who is in hiding, and Sens. Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, who are detained for the flood control mess.