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Advocates Philippines
Ridon: Suspended Senators Can't Vote In Sara Trial
Photo credit: Congress PH
Bicol Saro representativeTerry Ridon said a suspended senator cannot participate or vote in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, but clarified that the Constitution still requires at least 16 votes to secure a conviction regardless of any suspension in the Senate.
Speaking during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Ridon addressed questions about how a possible suspension of senators could affect Duterte’s looming impeachment trial before the Senate impeachment court.
“My understanding is not just for a senator, but for all members po whether House or Senate pagka ho suspended, you cannot participate in any committee proceedings and you cannot participate in plenary proceedings,” Ridon said.
“Ang ibig sabihin po noon syempre if you cannot speak, you also cannot vote,” added the Bicol Saro Party-list lawmaker, who also chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts.
The clarification comes as political tensions continue to rise ahead of the Senate’s formal convening as an impeachment court. Discussions online and among political observers have centered on whether the suspension or absence of senators could lower the number of votes needed to convict the vice president.
Ridon, however, stressed that the constitutional threshold remains fixed.
“Whoever it is, parang personality blind po, basta hindi mo abot ‘yung 16, you cannot convict,” the lawyer-lawmaker said.
“So, yun pong suspension basically does not actually impact ‘yung conviction po ng any impeachable official.”
Under the 1987 Constitution, a two-thirds vote of all members of the Senate is required to convict an impeachable official. Since the Senate has 24 members, at least 16 senators must vote in favor of conviction for Duterte to be removed from office.
“Hindi ho nagbabago ‘yung threshold vote na kailangan po to convict an impeachable official, so 16 pa rin po ‘yun ang kailangan pong boto to convict,” Ridon added.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte earlier this month after more than 250 lawmakers endorsed the Articles of Impeachment. The complaint includes allegations involving the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds, unexplained wealth tied to alleged bank transactions worth billions of pesos, bribery accusations, and alleged threats made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez.
The impeachment complaint followed months of congressional investigations into the Office of the Vice President’s confidential fund spending, including findings flagged by the Commission on Audit.
The Articles of Impeachment have already been transmitted to the Senate, paving the way for the formal start of impeachment proceedings.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano earlier announced that the Senate would proceed forthwith with the constitutional process and convene as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18.
Once convened, senator-judges are expected to take their oaths before the Senate begins handling preliminary matters, including summons and procedural rules, ahead of the actual trial proper.
Speaking during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Ridon addressed questions about how a possible suspension of senators could affect Duterte’s looming impeachment trial before the Senate impeachment court.
“My understanding is not just for a senator, but for all members po whether House or Senate pagka ho suspended, you cannot participate in any committee proceedings and you cannot participate in plenary proceedings,” Ridon said.
“Ang ibig sabihin po noon syempre if you cannot speak, you also cannot vote,” added the Bicol Saro Party-list lawmaker, who also chairs the House Committee on Public Accounts.
The clarification comes as political tensions continue to rise ahead of the Senate’s formal convening as an impeachment court. Discussions online and among political observers have centered on whether the suspension or absence of senators could lower the number of votes needed to convict the vice president.
Ridon, however, stressed that the constitutional threshold remains fixed.
“Whoever it is, parang personality blind po, basta hindi mo abot ‘yung 16, you cannot convict,” the lawyer-lawmaker said.
“So, yun pong suspension basically does not actually impact ‘yung conviction po ng any impeachable official.”
Under the 1987 Constitution, a two-thirds vote of all members of the Senate is required to convict an impeachable official. Since the Senate has 24 members, at least 16 senators must vote in favor of conviction for Duterte to be removed from office.
“Hindi ho nagbabago ‘yung threshold vote na kailangan po to convict an impeachable official, so 16 pa rin po ‘yun ang kailangan pong boto to convict,” Ridon added.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte earlier this month after more than 250 lawmakers endorsed the Articles of Impeachment. The complaint includes allegations involving the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds, unexplained wealth tied to alleged bank transactions worth billions of pesos, bribery accusations, and alleged threats made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez.
The impeachment complaint followed months of congressional investigations into the Office of the Vice President’s confidential fund spending, including findings flagged by the Commission on Audit.
The Articles of Impeachment have already been transmitted to the Senate, paving the way for the formal start of impeachment proceedings.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano earlier announced that the Senate would proceed forthwith with the constitutional process and convene as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18.
Once convened, senator-judges are expected to take their oaths before the Senate begins handling preliminary matters, including summons and procedural rules, ahead of the actual trial proper.
May 17, 2026
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