National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) National President Atty. Ephraim Cortez clarified that the Senate’s interpretation of the constitutional two-thirds voting threshold in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial applies exclusively to Senate proceedings and does not automatically alter other constitutional provisions.
Cortez explained that the Senate retains primary jurisdiction over its internal trial rules under constitutional guidelines.
However, he emphasized that the Supreme Court maintains ultimate authority to define two-thirds voting calculations for treaties and general legislation, noting that Senate rulings remain subject to judicial review upon a showing of grave abuse of discretion.
