Nagpasya si Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero na magdaos ng oral arguments sa Setyembre 23 kaugnay sa motion ni Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo sa impeachment court na talakayin na ang isyu kaugnay ng voting threshold sa impeachment trial ni Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
“Some of our members are beyond the jurisdiction of the Senate, one is on medical leave abroad… the other is in hiding, two are under the custody of the Sandiganbayan or the Bureau of Jail Management,” sabi ni Tulfo.
“I am not seeking to lower the requirement. When we refer to all the members, who exactly are we counting? What happens if nine or more Senators are unable to vote because they are beyond the reach of the Senate during the day we cast our votes?,” dagdag niya.
“If the Senate keeps it to 24 as base, if 9 senators would be absent, it will result in an acquittal by default.”
Ayon kay Escudero, mag-iimbita ng “Amici Curiae” o friends of the court upang marinig ang argumento sa usapin sa Setyembre 16.# (RRN)