Context Dispatch

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, voted 13-1 Wednesday to revise the voting threshold for convicting or acquitting Vice President Sara Duterte, counting only senators able to participate in the trial rather than all 24 members. Senator Francis Escudero, who presides over the proceedings, cast the lone dissenting vote, maintaining his earlier ruling that conviction requires 16 votes, or two-thirds of the full Senate. Six opposition senators declined to vote. Escudero said the new rule applies only to the current circumstances, with two senators detained, one on medical leave and another in hiding, and does not bind future impeachment courts. He added that fractions in calculating the two-thirds threshold would be rounded up. Defense lawyers reserved the right to challenge the ruling before the Supreme Court.

Japan, as a long-standing observer and partner in the Mindanao peace process, welcomed the successful conduct of the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election held on September 14.

The European Union (EU) is releasing €150,000 (some ₱10.9 million) in humanitarian funds to help communities hit hard by severe monsoon floods across Luzon. This support matter for over 32,000 people in the most affected areas: Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila.

Notarized deeds of donation and testimony in a plunder case show that a total P75 million given to Senator Rodante Marcoleta by former congressman Mike Defensor, and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray was intended to support the lawmaker’s 2025 senatorial campaign, rather than for personal use.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared before International Criminal Court (ICC) judges on Wednesday, Sept. 16, for the first time in 18 months as proceedings turned to his health and ability to stand trial.