LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 16, 2026
MANILA, Philippines – Four retired Supreme Court justices will appear before the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday, Day 26 of the impeachment trial, as senator-judges revisit the number of votes needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte.
Retired Chief Justices Artemio Panganiban, Reynato Puno and Hilario Davide Jr., along with retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna, will serve as amici curiae or friends of the court.
READ: Highlights: Day 25 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 15, 2026
Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno cautions that a strict, literal reading of the Constitution’s two-thirds voting requirement to convict in an impeachment trial could lead to “absurdities” and “injustices” that may defeat its intended purpose. #VPonTrialFollow our live updates… pic.twitter.com/gztE86fBGa
'ALL MEANS ALL'Retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna says the phrase "all the members of the Senate" in the Constitution refers to all 24 senators who remain members of the Senate."As long as they are members of the Senate, they constitute the denominator in computing the… pic.twitter.com/PMyVq7YJMy
PUNO ON ABSENT SENATOR-JUDGESRetired Chief Justice Reynato Puno says an absent senator-judge may still validly participate."A judge does not necessarily have to personally observe the demeanor of a witness," he says.Puno points to regular courts, where succeeding judges may… pic.twitter.com/vNI0nC8V8a
Retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno rejects a fixed 16-vote threshold based on a literal reading of the Constitution. He says the use of “two-thirds of all the members of the Senate” means the number of votes may change depending on certain factors.“If we give this kind of… pic.twitter.com/e3UT8JOAPL
Retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno rejects a fixed 16-vote threshold based on a literal reading of the Constitution. He says the use of “two-thirds of all the members of the Senate” means the number of votes may change depending on certain factors.“If we give this kind of… pic.twitter.com/e3UT8JOAPL
Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban underscores the importance of active presence in the impeachment trial, questioning the fairness of allowing absent senator-judges to cast their votes. #VPonTrialFollow our live updates here: https://t.co/0VsQxr5vFdWatch our live stream… pic.twitter.com/p6uWsj0rJg
Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. submitted a formal legal memorandum as amici curiae to the Senate’s Impeachment Court, arguing that the required two-thirds vote must be calculated based on the active participating senator-judges.Davide also clarified that public… pic.twitter.com/lG4w0kQPHu
Impeachment Clerk of Court reads former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.’s legal memorandum on the interpretation of “all the members” in determining the required vote in an impeachment trial.Davide says, “The basis of computing the two-thirds must be the number of senators who… pic.twitter.com/sLDIEGwEr3
DAY 25: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes on Wednesday, September 16.A quorum has been declared, with 17 senator-judges present. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/0VsQxr5vFdWatch our live stream here:… pic.twitter.com/iLqkRNoIBh
