Under the context of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, to impeach means "to charge." Therefore, President Estrada has already been impeached by Congress but it is up to the Senate to determine whether or not he should be dismissed from office. Arroyo is the first Philippine president to be impeached. Congress had previously tried to impeach three Filipino presidents: Elpidio Quirino in 1949, Diosdado Macapagal in 1963 and Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. All three attempts failed. Congress could not get the required number of votes to even get to first base.
The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to impeach public officials, and the Senate alone can conduct the actual trial. Initiating an impeachment complaint requires the filing of a sworn resolution of at least 73, or one-third of all congressmen. On Nov. 13, 2006, 115 congressmen signed the impeachment resolution. The President cannot be removed from office unless at least 15 senators, or two-thirds of the Senate membership of 22, vote against him.
The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to impeach public officials, and the Senate alone can conduct the actual trial. Initiating an impeachment complaint requires the filing of a sworn resolution of at least 73, or one-third of all congressmen. On Nov. 13, 2006, 115 congressmen signed the impeachment resolution. The President cannot be removed from office unless at least 15 senators, or two-thirds of the Senate membership of 22, vote against him.
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