Retired Supreme Court Chief Justices Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno, along with retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna, appear at the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, lead House prosecutor, said the positions presented by the amici curiae before the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday, arguing against a literal interpretation of the voting threshold, are “favorable for the prosecution.”
“If we give a literal interpretation to it, it will render the provision of the Constitution absurd or useless,” Luistro said in an ambush interview.
She added that the prosecution remains optimistic that the Senate impeachment court will consider their position on lowering the voting threshold.
“Initially our stand really is to submit to the sound judgment of the Honorable Impeachment Court… Last week, we were tasked to engage in oral argument so naturally we will be taking the position which is more favorable for the prosecution and that is the lowering of the threshold,” Luistro added.
The prosecution and the defense are set to present their oral arguments on the matter on Wednesday next week, September 23.
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Bukidnon 2nd Rep. Keith Flores, also a prosecutor, however said the prosecution continues to discuss their position on the matter but they recognize and respect that the decision is entirely on the jurisdiction of the Senate impeachment court.
“We’ve been preparing our position for the oral arguments… Sa amin whether it’s 16, 14, or 13, we’re really just focused on presenting the evidence,” Flores said in a lunch briefing on Wednesday.
“We leave it to the Senate to determine among themselves kung ilan ba ang boboto o ilan ang magko-constitute ng two-thirds sa tingin nila (how many will vote, and who will constitute the two-thirds),” he added.
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