Manila, Sept. 16 -- Former Supreme Court magistrates on Wednesday laid out possible safeguards to keep detention or absence from distorting the final vote in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, ranging from remote participation and legislation, to clearer rules separating Senate membership from the right to vote.

The proposals surfaced as Senator-judge Joel Villanueva pressed the amici curiae, or friends of the court, on how the Senate could avoid two opposite outcomes -senators effectively blocking conviction by staying away, or a majority lowering the threshold by excluding members who cannot participate.

"No senator should be able to manufacture a veto by disappearing. But no majority should be able to manufacture a conv...