Manila, Sept. 23 -- The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday distinguished impeachment from ordinary criminal prosecution, describing the proceedings as sui generis while acknowledging that they share features of both administrative and criminal cases.

Presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero made this clarification before the court heard oral arguments from the prosecution and defense on the voting threshold to be applied in deciding the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The issue arose after House prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno and defense lead counsel Sheila Sison clashed over whether Vice President Sara Duterte could be referred to as "respondent-accused."

"Impeachment is primarily for the protection of the peopl...