The Philippine Senate, acting as an impeachment court, voted Wednesday to lower the number of votes required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, shifting the threshold from 16 to as few as 14.

Senators approved the change in a 13-1 vote, with six members from the minority bloc declining to participate. Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero cast the lone dissenting vote but said he would implement the ruling as the court's judgment.

The decision means the constitutionally required two-thirds majority will now be calculated only among senators legally and factually able to take part in the proceedings. Four senators aligned with Duterte have been unable to participate due to legal issues, including detention in some cases.

The ruling overturned Escudero's earlier interpretation that all 24 Senate seats must be counted regardless of absences. The new standard excludes senators who are detained, suspended, incapacitated, or otherwise barred from performing their duties.

Duterte faces impeachment charges including misuse of public funds, amassing unexplained wealth, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials. She denies the allegations.

The trial stems from a political rift between Duterte and Marcos, her former running mate. A conviction would bar her from the 2028 presidential election, which she has indicated interest in contesting.

Duterte's defense team placed a reservation on the record, stating her participation would continue under protest. Critics of the vote argued it effectively alters the constitutional requirement mid-trial.

The ruling applies only to this case and does not set precedent for future impeachments. Proceedings are expected to continue with the adjusted threshold in place.