Former Marcos aide challenges Senate's lowered vote threshold in Sara Duterte impeachment

Former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez filed a petition with the Supreme Court demanding that the September 23 ruling of the Senate impeachment court be declared void. The ruling had lowered the two-thirds conviction threshold from 16 votes, representing all 24 senators, to a smaller figure based on those legally present in the trial. Rodriguez maintains that the Constitution mandates the full-senate count and asked for a temporary restraining order to stop the implementation of the new threshold.

His challenge comes amid his outspoken criticism of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment and broader opposition to proposed constitutional amendments. Rodriguez, once a close ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left the administration in 2022 and has since aligned with Duterte supporters. The Supreme Court dismissed related petitions on August 5, deeming them moot as the trial proceeds.