EXPLAINER: Who are the impeachment court's amici curiae?

The Senate impeachment court has invited four retired Supreme Court (SC) justices to provide their expert opinions on the vote threshold needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte.

According to a report from GMA News Feed, all four retired SC justices have confirmed that they will provide their opinions. They were invited as “amici curiae,” or “friends of the court.”

Impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol said three of the retired justices will give their opinions in person on September 16, while one will submit a legal memorandum.

Who are they?

Ret. Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban

Panganiban earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from Far Eastern University in 1960 and placed sixth in the Bar Examinations that same year.

Before former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed him Chief Justice in 2005, he served as an Associate Justice of the SC from 1995 to 2005.

His term as Chief Justice lasted less than a year before he retired in 2006.

During his 11 years on the SC, Panganiban wrote 11 books, one for each year he served on the court.

Panganiban is currently a columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Ret. Chief Justice Reynato Puno

Puno succeeded Panganiban as Chief Justice in 2006. He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1962.

In 1967, he obtained a Master of Comparative Laws degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

He later earned a Master of Laws degree from the University of California and a Doctor of Juridical Science degree from the University of Illinois in 1969.

From 1974 to 1982, Puno served as Assistant Solicitor General. He was also an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals from 1980 to 1984 and again from 1986 to 1993.

He became an Associate Justice of the SC in 1993.

During his term as Chief Justice from 2006 to 2010, Puno introduced the Writ of Amparo and Writ of Habeas Data, both legal remedies aimed at protecting basic human rights.

Ret. Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna

Azcuna earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from Ateneo de Manila University in 1962 and placed fourth in the Bar Examinations that year.

He first served in government in 1963 as assistant private secretary to Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Jose Bengzon.

He later became Bengzon’s private secretary when Bengzon was appointed an Associate Justice of the SC in 1964.

In 1971, Azcuna became a member of the Constitutional Convention as a representative of Zamboanga del Norte. He was also a member of the Constitutional Commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution.

Azcuna served as Presidential Legal Counsel, Press Secretary, and Presidential Spokesperson during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino.

Former President Arroyo later appointed him as an SC Associate Justice in 2002.

After retiring from the SC in 2009, Azcuna served as chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy for 12 years, until 2021.

Ret. Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

Davide earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1959.

He was also a member of the 1971 Constitutional Convention, representing the fourth district of Cebu.

From 1978 to 1984, Davide served as an assemblyman of the Interim Batasang Pambansa.

He was a known oppositionist during the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and became the first minority leader of the Interim Batasang Pambansa.

In 1986, he became a member of the Constitutional Commission and chaired its Committee on Legislative Power.

Davide was the principal author and sponsor of Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, which covers the legislative department.

He served as chairman of the Commission on Elections from 1988 to 1990.

From 1989 to 1991, he led the presidential fact-finding commission that investigated the coup attempts against then-President Corazon Aquino.

Davide was appointed an Associate Justice of the SC in 1991. Former President Joseph Estrada appointed him Chief Justice in 1998.

As prescribed by the Constitution, Davide served as the presiding officer of Estrada’s impeachment trial. He also administered the oath of office to Arroyo when she assumed the presidency during EDSA Dos.

Davide retired from the SC in 2005.

Tongol said Davide would be the one to submit a legal memorandum.

The oral arguments between the defense and prosecution panels, meanwhile, will be held a week later, on September 23. Each side will be given 15 minutes to present its position.

Senator-judges are also expected to cast their votes on the same day.

Presiding Officer Senator Francis Escudero reiterated that at least 16 votes, or two-thirds of all 24 senators, are needed to convict, in accordance with the Constitution. — VBL, GMA News