The article debunks a claim that Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson called for lowering the conviction threshold in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial from 16 votes to 14.

The original post, shared on Facebook by user Sergio Garcia Trinidad, falsely attributed a quote to Lacson stating, 'Ibaba sa 14 ‘votes’ para sa impeachment ni VP Sara.' However, fact-checkers confirmed that Lacson did not advocate for reducing the threshold.

Instead, he agreed with the trial presiding officer, Chiz Escudero, who set the conviction threshold at 16 votes based on constitutional requirements (Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution).

The article explains that the 16-vote threshold applies to all 24 Senate members, and any disagreement with this ruling can be escalated to the Supreme Court.The confusion arose after some legal experts and the prosecution suggested lowering the threshold due to the absence of sitting senators (e.g., Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta’s arrests).However, Lacson clarified that the voting threshold should be resolved early in the trial to avoid legal complications.

The piece also highlights that Duterte’s impeachment trial is ongoing, with four articles of impeachment against her involving allegations of financial misconduct and threats to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.The article underscores the importance of verifying claims, especially in political contexts, to prevent misinformation.