
MANILA, Philippines – On Day 29 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the court will hear oral arguments from the prosecution and defense on the number of votes needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, a week after the court sought guidance from retired chief justices on the issue.
The dispute centers on whether the two-thirds requirement should be based on the full 24-member Senate or only on senators currently qualified to vote, amid the absence of three senators facing legal issues.
READ: Highlights: Day 28 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 22, 2026
- House prosecution counsel Rep. Leila de Lima will present the prosecution’s arguments
- The defense has yet to disclose which counsel will argue its position, with lawyer Justin Gular saying the decision to keep the identity of its presenter under wraps is part of their strategy.
- The prosecution and defense will be given 15 minutes to present their respective arguments.
- The court will then vote on whether the two-thirds requirement should be based on the full 24-member Senate or only on senators currently qualified to vote.
- Sixteen votes are currently considered necessary to convict Duterte, based on two-thirds of the 24-member Senate.
- The proceedings come a week after the impeachment court sought the views of retired chief justices on the proper basis for determining the required votes.
Exactly a week after the Senate impeachment court sought guidance from retired chief justices, the prosecution and defense teams on Wednesday will be presenting their arguments on the voting threshold required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte. #VPonTrial
READ MORE:… pic.twitter.com/n7Y7lvNUWn
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 22, 2026
Vice President Sara Duterte’s declared wealth rose sharply even as most of the corporations linked to her and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, reported losses and no recorded dividend payouts, raising questions at her impeachment trial about where the increase in her assets… pic.twitter.com/rQAZ1Qmnyt
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 22, 2026
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