Imee Marcos Opposes Change on 16-Vote Threshold to Convict Sara Duterte

Sen. Imee Marcos Speaks on Senate Decision to Change Voting Threshold in Impeachment

IMEE MARCOS – The presidential sister and minority Senator expressed a strong opposition in changing the voting threshold for impeachment.

The Senate impeachment court has recently voted to make a change in the 16-vote threshold to impeach Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The move came amid some senators’ unavailability to attend to their duties physically.

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are currently detained due to the plunder charges filed against them. Estrada is accused of alleged flood control corruption while Marcoleta’s detention stems from the multi-million donation he supposedly received during the previous election but was not declared in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

Aside from Estrada and Marcoleta, Sen. Loren Legarda is also on an extended medical leave and has yet to return to the Philippines. The Senator is also being questioned in line with the solar firm of her son, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste.

Prior to the detention of Estrada and Marcoleta as well as the medical leave of Legarda, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is on a prolonged absence from his Senate duties for several months now. His disappearance came after Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against him.

The physical absence of four (4) senators leaves the Senate impeachment court with 20 functioning senator-judges. Recently, the Senate impeachment court voted on the proposal to change the 16-vote threshold to convict Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.

Six (6) senators from the minority bloc including presidential sister and Sen. Imee Marcos did not vote. Marcos is strongly against the changing of the voting threshold for the impeachment of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.

“Huwag nang pakialaman ang Konstitusyon. Tulad ng sinabi ko, kailanman hindi ko inakala na ako bilang isang Marcos, eh ipaglalaban ‘yung Saligang Batas na sabi ay laban sa tatay ko. Pero ‘yan ang kataas-taasang batas ng ating bansa kaya kailangan na kilalanin natin at huwag natin bagu-baguhin,” the Senator said.

Sen. Imee Marcos also likened the current situation into a race. According to her, the finish line should not be moved just because it seems not within the reach.

“Ano ba yan, parang finish line. Karera ba ‘to? Kapag hindi mo kayang abutin ang finish line, ilalapit mo? Hindi naman ganun. Kailangang sundan mo,” she said based on the post.

Here are the senators who voted in favor of the changing of the voting threshold, the lone senator who voted in the negative, and the members of the minority bloc who did not participate in the voting:

Under the recent ruling, 14 votes among the senator-judges are needed to impeach the Vice President. Sen. Mark Villar is the lone minority senator who voted in favor of the changing of the voting threshold to convict Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.