Senate Lowers Conviction Threshold in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

The Philippine Senate, acting as an impeachment court, is conducting a trial to remove Sara Duterte from office following allegations of unexplained wealth and illegal business interests. Prosecutors are investigating the Vice President's reported P6.7 billion total wealth and her failure to divest from GenCorp Industries Inc., a company that secured 49 government contracts worth approximately P35.8 million during her tenure. Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro argues these interests violate the 1987 Constitution.

To support the case, the court subpoenaed Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte to testify between September 28 and 30, 2026, and to provide records regarding GenCorp Industries Inc. and Jollibee franchises. Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV is also scheduled to testify regarding the sources of the Duterte family's wealth, while officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System have provided evidence on assets and procurement records.

On September 23, the Senate voted to lower the conviction threshold from the constitutional requirement of 16 votes to 14 votes. This change applies because four Duterte-aligned senators were removed from the proceedings due to warrants, imprisonment, or investigations led by the Office of the Ombudsman. This rule change has triggered a constitutional crisis, with two petitions now before the Supreme Court challenging the Senate's authority to alter the voting threshold.