FULL TEXT: Retired CJ Reynato Puno's position on impeachment voting threshold

Retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno, in his position as an amicus curiae of the Senate impeachment court, noted that the 1987 Constitution used a fraction in the provision on the voting threshold to convict an impeached official.

During the Sept. 16 impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the magistrate noted that because of the language used, the number of votes to convict will have to move, depending on certain factors.

Puno subscribed to a contextual and functional interpretation and emphasized that the provisions of the Constitution should be "applied so as to meet new or changed conditions as they arise."

Scroll to read Puno's full statement.