An election lawyer sees a hard road ahead for the impeachment attempt against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the latter only needs 8 votes in the Senate to beat the complaint.

Speaking to TeleRadyo Serbisyo, Atty. Romulo Macalintal said it is not right for complainants to just file the information.

“Sa akin hindi tama 'yung nais nilang ma-impeach. Hindi ganun dapat, Dapat nais nilang matanggal sa tungkulin sa pamamagitan ng impeachment. ‘Yung impeach, para ka lang nag aakusa. Parang kriminal case sa piskilya,” he said.

Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, is facing 2 impeachment complaints before the House of Representatives.

VP Sara Duterte faces impeachment complaint

VP Sara Duterte faces second impeachment complaint

If the impeachment attempt hurdles the Lower House, the complaint still needs the two-thirds vote of the Senate or a total of 16 votes of senators to convict.

Macalintal noted that even the previous impeachment complaint against President Joseph Estrada did not reach a vote after prosecutors walked out of the Senate trial.

“Makuha ba nila yung two’-thirds vote to convict? ‘Yung 2/3rd dapat 16 ang boboto kahit 23 lang sila. Makakuha lamang ng 8 si VP Sara, tapos na ‘yun o kaya kapag maraming nag-abstain, hindi mare-reach ‘yung 16,” he said.

“Kung sa tingin nila Sara ay kontrolado nila ang Senate, pababayaan na lang nila na ma-impeach siya sa House.”