The source said that the current roster of magistrates are almost equally divided on the De Lima case. He said that five justices have submitted their dissenting opinions –Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Marvic Leonen, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, and Francis Jardeleza. The vote of SC Justice Mariano Del Castillo will thus be crucial and could be considered as one of the “swing votes” should he join the dissenters. Without the new appointee of Duterte in the SC, only 14 Justices will be participating in the voting. The Rules of Court provides that in case of a tie (7-7), De Lima’s petition shall be dismissed.

Source: Manila Times August 13, 2017 17:37 UTC