Para sa House prosecution panel, nananatili sa 16 ang threshold para ma-convict ang isang impeachable official, ayon kay prosecution adviser at spokesperson Ace Barbers.
“Sa madaling sabi, we stick with the decision and the ruling of the Presiding Officer on day one when he said na 16 is the two-thirds of 24,” sabi ni Barbers sa press conference nitong Biyernes.
“So until this is changed, until this is discussed and deliberated in the Supreme Court, should they change the number, then of course we will respect that. Ang stand ng prosecution ay 16, as we speak,” dagdag pa nito.
Nagpahayag din ng katulad na paninindigan si Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, na isa ring spokesperson ng House prosecution panel.
“That is also in compliance with the earlier ruling of the Presiding Officer. Kasi wala naman po talagang controversy; nagkaroon lang po ito ng pagkakataon na mapag-usapan because the senators themselves, some of them, actually wanted to revisit and re-interpret the two-thirds constitutional provision,” sabi ni Alonto Adiong.
Inimbitahan ng Senate impeachment court sina retired Chief Justices Artemio Panganiban at Reynato Puno, at retired Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna upang talakayin ang isyu ng threshold sa Setyembre 16.
Hiniling naman ng korte kay retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. na magsumite ng legal memorandum, ayon kay court spokesperson Regie Tongol.
Sinabi ni Barbers na makatutulong ang payo ng mga eksperto sa mga senator-judge upang matugunan ang magkakaibang pananaw hinggil sa threshold, kasunod ng hindi paglahok ng ilang senador sa impeachment proceedings. (Billy Begas)
