LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 16, 2026

Luistro said the position of the majority of the amici curiae is favorable to the prosecution, as there is a huge possibility…

Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban said he would inhibit from the vice president’s impeachment trial if he were a judge who failed to actively participate.

What do the amici curiae say about the two-thirds threshold for conviction in the impeachment trial? Four retired Supreme Court justices offered their interpretations of how the constitutional requirement should be computed, particularly on whether the denominator should always be the Senate’s 24 members. #VPonTrial Read more: https://t.co/PlexYDQg3m Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk11tX7 Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1bvt

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban drew laughs when asked whether the Constitution is perfect. “Nothing in the world, except God, is perfect,” he said. In jest, he added: “Now, in the judiciary, the Supreme Court is the last resort. It is not perfect, but it is always right. Sometimes also, it is not always right, but it’s never wrong.” #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk11tX7 Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1bvt

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban reminds senator-judges that the Filipino people are expecting the truth and justice from the Senate impeachment court. “Ang hinahanap po ng ating bayan ay hustisya mula sa Senado." #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk121MF Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1Jl1

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna says all senators who remain members of the Senate should constitute the denominator for the two-thirds threshold. “As long as they are members of the Senate, they constitute the denominator… because all means all.” #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk11tX7 Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1bvt

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno rejects treating the 16-vote impeachment threshold as “fixed and immutable,” saying the Constitution could have simply stated that the number of votes needed to convict is 16. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk121MF Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1Jl1

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. in his written opinion submitted to the impeachment court, says the two-thirds threshold for conviction should be based on the number of senators “qualified to vote,” rather than automatically on all 24 members of the Senate. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk121MF Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1Jl1

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Show-cause orders were issued to certain members of the House prosecution panel for possible violation of the sub judice rule, Escudero said.

At the end of Wednesday’s impeachment trial, Presiding Officer and Senator-judge Francis Escudero issued the subpoena for Baste Duterte

Ex-Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban jokes he is single after Sen. Risa Hontiveros thanks retired justices for their guidance during impeachment court proceedings.

‘I’M SINGLE TOO’ Retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban drew laughs during Wednesday’s Senate Impeachment Court proceedings after jokingly telling Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros that he is still single. Panganiban was invited as an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court,” to give his legal opinion on the voting threshold needed for a conviction. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk11tX7 Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1bvt

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Senate impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol said that the show-cause order for subjudice rule violations will be served to a public prosecutor and a private prosecutor. | @keithcINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk11tX7 Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1bvt

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban questioned the argument that all 24 senators should vote in an impeachment case.

The impeachment court turned to amici curiae (friends of the court), arguing over the vote threshold to convict or acquit VP Sara Duterte.

Three out of the four ex-SC justices invited in impeachment trial agreed the minimum number of votes needed for conviction is not set at 16.

‘I FEAR FOR MY LIBERTY’ Senator-Judge Pia Cayetano admitted feeling pressured amid the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying she fears for her liberty after NBI Director Melvin Matibag allegedly made her appear “like a common fugitive.” Cayetano said actions that place pressure on senator-judges could affect discussions on the impeachment court’s threshold mechanism, raising concerns about the independence of the proceedings. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk11tX7 Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1bvt

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

CONSTITUTIONAL GUIDANCE LOOK: Retired Supreme Court Chief Justices Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno, together with retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna, attend the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Appearing as amici curiae ("friends of the court"), the former magistrates provided legal and constitutional expert opinions on key issues facing the Senate Impeachment Court, specifically addressing whether the two-thirds voting threshold required for conviction applies strictly to all 24 elected members or to active, participating senator-judges. #VPonTrial [1/3] | via Niño Jesus Orbeta, Philippine Daily Inquirer Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk121MF Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1Jl1

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

‘YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE COURT’ Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban praised Senator-judge Kiko Pangilinan, recalling seeing him in action as the Senate’s representative on the Judicial and Bar Council. #VPonTrial Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wbSLk121MF Watch our live stream here: https://t.co/xHKk3w1Jl1

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

‘IT’S NOT LEGALISM. IT’S NOT JUDICIAL CONDUCT’Retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban reminds senator-judges that Filipinos expect truth and justice from the impeachment trial. #VPonTrialFollow our live updates here: https://t.co/0VsQxr4XPFWatch our live stream here:… pic.twitter.com/P3ZCxwOQeB

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban clarified that he was speaking from the perspective of the Filipino people, not of trial judges.

The Senate impeachment court had asked the amici curiae, or “friends of the court,” to address three questions and here’s what they…

Panganiban said that there are two ways of interpreting laws of the land — from the literal meaning or verba legis, to the reason why…

Retired SC Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna said the voting threshold to convict Sara Duterte should be based on all members of the Senate.

Former Supreme Court Justice Adolfo Azcuna believes that a two-thirds vote of the 24 senators is needed to convict in an impeachment trial.

‘CAN THEY BE RELEASED TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES AS JUDGES?’Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno raises the question of whether detained senators should be temporarily released to perform their duties as impeachment judges and be allowed to vote in the trial. #VPonTrialFollow our… pic.twitter.com/BLIg8iNbzX

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

‘MAY KARAPATAN BA SIYANG BUMOTO?’Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban says a detained senator remains a Senate member but questions their right to vote, stressing the importance of judges hearing testimony in person and observing witnesses. #VPonTrialFollow our live… pic.twitter.com/xMx7zfEjWG

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban says the Senate did not violate the Constitution in past instances when it approved treaties with only 13 members present, noting that the Senate was then acting as a ratifying body, unlike its current role as an impeachment court.… pic.twitter.com/X1e1SqucoW

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

EXPERT LEGAL TESTIMONYLOOK: Former Supreme Court Chief Justices Reynato Puno and Artemio Panganiban along with retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna, appear before the Senate impeachment court in Pasay City on Wednesday, Sept. 16, on Day 26 of the impeachment trial of Vice… pic.twitter.com/bOJUu5sgLr

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Puno says Constitution’s provision on number of votes required to convict an impeachable officer is flexible, “depending on certain factors.”

Former Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna says the two-thirds voting threshold in an impeachment trial must remain fixed, warning that counting only participating senators could reduce it to a simple majority. #VPonTrialFollow our live updates here: https://t.co/0VsQxr5vFdWatch… pic.twitter.com/ijmcb5DRCu

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Former Supreme Court chief justice Artemio Panganiban questions votes of senators absent from Sara Duterte impeachment trial.

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno cautions that a strict, literal reading of the Constitution’s two-thirds voting requirement to convict in an impeachment trial could lead to “absurdities” and “injustices” that may defeat its intended purpose. #VPonTrialFollow our live updates… pic.twitter.com/gztE86fBGa

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

'ALL MEANS ALL'Retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna says the phrase "all the members of the Senate" in the Constitution refers to all 24 senators who remain members of the Senate."As long as they are members of the Senate, they constitute the denominator in computing the… pic.twitter.com/PMyVq7YJMy

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

PUNO ON ABSENT SENATOR-JUDGESRetired Chief Justice Reynato Puno says an absent senator-judge may still validly participate."A judge does not necessarily have to personally observe the demeanor of a witness," he says.Puno points to regular courts, where succeeding judges may… pic.twitter.com/vNI0nC8V8a

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno rejects a fixed 16-vote threshold based on a literal reading of the Constitution. He says the use of “two-thirds of all the members of the Senate” means the number of votes may change depending on certain factors.“If we give this kind of… pic.twitter.com/e3UT8JOAPL

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Presiding Officer Francis Escudero presents retired SC justices to serve as amici curiae to give views on required votes to convict Duterte.

Law Dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino said the 16-vote threshold for convicting Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial should not be treated as fixed

Retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno rejects a fixed 16-vote threshold based on a literal reading of the Constitution. He says the use of “two-thirds of all the members of the Senate” means the number of votes may change depending on certain factors.“If we give this kind of… pic.twitter.com/e3UT8JOAPL

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban underscores the importance of active presence in the impeachment trial, questioning the fairness of allowing absent senator-judges to cast their votes. #VPonTrialFollow our live updates here: https://t.co/0VsQxr5vFdWatch our live stream… pic.twitter.com/p6uWsj0rJg

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. submitted a formal legal memorandum as amici curiae to the Senate’s Impeachment Court, arguing that the required two-thirds vote must be calculated based on the active participating senator-judges.Davide also clarified that public… pic.twitter.com/lG4w0kQPHu

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Impeachment Clerk of Court reads former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.’s legal memorandum on the interpretation of “all the members” in determining the required vote in an impeachment trial.Davide says, “The basis of computing the two-thirds must be the number of senators who… pic.twitter.com/sLDIEGwEr3

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

DAY 25: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes on Wednesday, September 16.A quorum has been declared, with 17 senator-judges present. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/0VsQxr5vFdWatch our live stream here:… pic.twitter.com/iLqkRNoIBh

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 16, 2026

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. gives his views on the votes needed to convict in an impeachment trial.

Four retired Supreme Court justices are set to appear as amici curiae before the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday

The four members of the amici curiae will first be given five minutes to present their arguments on the primary concerns

VP Sara Duterte’s declared net worth jumped 13.6-fold from the time she entered government as Davao City vice mayor in 2007 to 2025.