00:00Senator Cheese Escudero sets the conviction threshold in Vice President Sara Duterte's
00:05impeachment trial to 16. This comes after 12 senators vote in favor to elect Escudero as
00:11impeachment presiding officer on the first day of the trial. Escudero replaced as Senate President
00:16Win Gatchalian who would have presided under the Senate's previous impeachment rules.
00:20In a speech following his election, the senator notes the 2000 Supreme Court ruling Bayan v Zamora
00:26supports the interpretation that all of the Senate's 24 members must be taken into account.
00:31Despite having only 23 incumbent senators at that time, the court held the charter provides
00:38that the Senate shall be composed of 24 senators and should the Supreme Court, who possesses the
00:44sole authority to interpret the Constitution by virtue of its power of judicial review, render
00:50a different ruling on this question other than what the chair has stated. This court and this
00:57representation shall faithfully abide by that ruling." Out of 24 senators, two are in jail for
01:03plunder, namely Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada, while Senator Bato de la Rosa remains
01:08in hiding amid an active ICC warrant. Escudero also orders the return of Duterte's box of tax records to
01:15the BIR. The House Prosecution Panel previously asked the impeachment court to open the sealed box
01:20containing the tax records of Duterte and her husband, Man Scarpio. Duterte's lawyers said they are in
01:25favor of opening the box but only in an executive session. Meantime, Duterte skips the opening of her
01:31own impeachment trial in accordance with the impeachment rules. Karapatan naman po niya yun
01:37that her appearance be made through counsel. So, sa ngayon po, masabi natin na hindi na siya
01:45mag-attend today. She's here through counsel.
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