The Senate impeachment court will not hold a trial on Sept. 16 but will instead hear from amici curiae, or “friends of the court,” as it considers whether the 16-vote threshold for convicting Vice President Sara Duterte should be lowered.

Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Tuesday that the impeachment court will invite legal experts to provide their views on the sensitive constitutional and legal issues surrounding the voting threshold.

“Given the sensitive and serious nature of this issue and topic ... we will be enlisting the opinion and assistance of amici curiae or ‘friends of the court,’” Escudero said.

Escudero said he consulted both the prosecution and defense teams, as well as the senator-judges, on the selection of the amici curiae. He said their identities could not yet be announced because they have not been contacted.

Under Rule 22 of the impeachment rules, appeals or motions for reconsideration of a ruling by the presiding officer are generally decided without debate through an aye-and-nay vote. Escudero said the court opted to seek expert opinions because of the significance of the issue.

The impeachment court will hear the amici curiae on Sept. 16, with no trial proceedings scheduled for that day.

Oral arguments by the parties will then be held on Sept. 23, with each side given 15 minutes to present its position.

Escudero said the parties would have more than two weeks to prepare before the issue is put to a vote on Sept. 23.

The issue centers on whether the current requirement of 16 votes — or a two-thirds majority of the 24-member Senate — should be lowered for Duterte’s impeachment case.