The private prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial seeks to build overwhelming evidence for conviction regardless of how the Senate vote threshold is interpreted.
Lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said on Monday that the team’s goal is to ensure a compelling case that can sustain Vice President Sara Duterte’s conviction. He declined to comment on whether the required votes should be lowered from 16 to 15 or 14.
The 1987 Constitution requires concurrence of two-thirds of all 24 senators, or 16 votes, for conviction. The Senate’s numbers are reduced after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s suspension and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa becoming a fugitive.
The impeachment trial is scheduled to begin on July 6. The prosecution has requested 62 trial dates while the defense seeks 30. The trial may extend beyond September, said Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro.
