MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday rejected Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano’s point of order questioning whether the court could still take up the disputed voting threshold of Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial.
"With 13 affirmative votes, six negative votes, one abstention, the appeal is lost," said Senate Presiding Officer Francis Escudero.
With the appeal lost, the impeachment court may proceed to vote on the voting-threshold issue.
Cayetano was joined by his sister, Senator-judges Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Bong Go and Camille Villar in the motion, while Senator-judge Mark Villar abstained.
In a point of order, Cayetano argued that the impeachment court has no business reopening the threshold question.
"If we're going to vote on this issue, we're not going to participate because we don't think it's a matter that we can vote on. You don't vote on what's right or wrong. No, so we don't think it's a matter of interpretation," he said.
