Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the presiding officer of the Senate sitting as an impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial, states that conviction requires at least 16 affirmative votes from the senator-judges. Escudero makes the position known during his opening remarks on the first day of the proceedings, where he addresses the voting thresholds that will guide how the trial is conducted and how rulings are made. Multiple reports repeat that he maintains the minimum vote requirement for conviction remains 16, even as the trial faces constraints on participation. Both outlets note that the established threshold applies despite the fact that three senators are currently unable to take part in the trial, which affects how many jurors can actively participate. The reports describe Escudero’s comments as clarification of the standards governing the impeachment case, with attention on how the required number of votes will be counted to reach a conviction.