A recent claim circulating on social media misattributes a statement to Senator Panfilo Lacson, suggesting he advocated for lowering the impeachment vote threshold for Vice President Sara Duterte from 16 votes to 14. This allegation, however, has been confirmed as false.
Misleading Claims Fuel Public Outrage
Ibaba sa 14 ‘votes’ para sa impeachment ni VP Sara.
Sergio Garcia Trinidad, Facebook User
As of July 10, the misleading post had garnered over 1,600 reactions and 500 comments, prompting discussions about adherence to constitutional procedures. Users criticized Lacson for allegedly 'bending the law'.
In reality, Lacson did not advocate for any changes to the voting threshold. On July 11, he affirmed his agreement with the ruling of the impeachment trial's presiding officer, Chiz Escudero, which confirmed that a two-thirds majority—16 votes—was necessary to convict.
This ruling is consistent with Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates that a significant majority of Senate members must concur for a conviction in impeachment cases.
The confusion arose amidst the ongoing impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte, the first public official to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. The trial addresses several serious allegations, including misuse of confidential funds and bribery.
Legal experts have debated the threshold, particularly due to the absence of some senators. Suggestions were made to consider the number of active senators, which would reduce the vote requirement to 14. However, any changes to this threshold would require legal validation.