@MarcusBench If you are drug pushers, addict or member of criminal group, surely you must be afraid of duterte leadership! But most Filipinos want it and need it. Iron hand must rule to obtain peace and development in the Philippines.
The issue was never whether the Impeachment Court may interpret its own procedures.
It may.
The issue is whether procedural authority includes the power to alter an express constitutional condition for conviction.
The Constitution says:
βtwo-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.β
It does not say:
βtwo-thirds of those present.β
βtwo-thirds of those participating.β
βtwo-thirds of those available to vote.β
The Senate may try the case.
It may weigh the evidence.
It may acquit or convict.
But if the constitutional denominator itself can be rewritten by the tribunal applying it, then the limit is no longer imposed by the Constitution.
It is imposed by whoever happens to constitute the Court that day.
https://t.co/JlQQeniQHg