A SUSPENDED senator cannot participate or vote in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, but the constitutional requirement of 16 votes — or two-thirds of the 24-member Senate — for conviction remains unchanged, House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry L. Ridon said over the weekend.
During the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, Ridon clarified the issue after being asked about the possible impact of any future Senate suspensions on Duterte’s looming impeachment trial and whether suspended senators would still be allowed to vote on the case.
“My understanding is not just for a senator, but for all members po. 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 the chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts.
Ridon stressed, however, that suspensions do not alter the constitutional threshold required for conviction.
“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.”
Ridon stressed that the prosecution would still need 16 votes to convict Duterte regardless of how many senators are 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 of 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 convene 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.
