2 months ago
39
Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!
Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Visit Suniway.ph to learn
January 19, 2026 | 5:25pm
MANILA, Philippines — Even as the president’s son, House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos cannot block the impeachment complaint against President Bongbong Marcos from reaching the justice committee.
Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon, 2nd District), vice chair of the House Committee on Justice, said the majority leader “has no choice” but to let the impeachment complaint against his father be referred to the justice committee.
“So even if he is the majority leader, and even if the impeachable officer that is complained of is his father, wala siyang magagawa,” Flores said at a press conference on Monday, January 19.
He also said the House rules for handling impeachment complaints are “clear-cut.” Once included in the Order of Business, the complaint must be referred to the Committee on Justice within three session days.
“That the majority leader is a presidential son would not have weight or matter because the rules do not give him any discretion or flexibility... This is why the Constitution and the rules provide clear deadlines,” Flores added in a statement.
Sandro also chairs the House Committee on Rules, a post traditionally held by the majority leader.
The committee oversees all House rules, including congressional probes, impeachment proceedings, the Order and Calendar of Business, and the referral of bills, resolutions, speeches and committee reports.
However, Flores stressed that the impeachment process is also governed by the Constitution, which clearly mandates referral to the proper committee within three session days.
So whether or not impeachment rules in the House are revised, they must not violate the Constitution that underpins them.
What if there's more than one complaint?
The first impeachment complaint filed against the president on Monday was lodged by lawyer Andres de Jesus and endorsed by Rep. Jett Nisay (Pusong Pinoy Party-list). The complaint cites culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.
De Jesus mentions several reasons for filing the complaint, including:
- The arrest and transfer of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court
- Allegations of illegal drug use and addiction
- Failure to veto unprogrammed appropriations since 2023
- Allegations of benefiting from kickbacks in infrastructure projects
- Creating the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), allegedly to “shield corrupt allies”
The Makabayan bloc said it is planning its own impeachment initiative against Bongbong, and will announce it “at the proper time.”
“We believe that the basis for impeachment is present in the systematic plunder of the budget, the ballooning unprogrammed funds used for anomalous flood control projects and the serious allegations of Palace kickbacks in infrastructure projects,” the three-member bloc said in a statement.
Flores said that if more impeachment complaints are filed and referred to the justice committee, the panel will have the prerogative to decide which complaints, if any, are sufficient in form and substance to move forward.
Consolidation of complaints would be possible only if the rules allow and the complainants agree, he added.
When complaints are barred. However, once the first impeachment complaint is referred to the justice committee and officially initiated, other complaints cannot be entertained, as this would violate the one-year bar rule that prohibits filing impeachment proceedings against the same official within the same year.
“In all of the situations, the House will decide on the basis of the merits as to form, substance and the impeachment rules,” Flores said.
Still, the justice committee vice chair said the House must decide whether to amend its impeachment rules to align with the Supreme Court’s July 2025 ruling on “due process” and the “initiation” of proceedings.
But if there’s one thing clear, it’s that Sandro, whether as House majority leader or as the president’s son, must allow the impeachment complaint against his father to reach the justice committee for review.
