THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice will meet today, Feb. 2, for an initial review of the two impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to determine sufficiency in form and substance.
The committee has notified the complaints’ endorsers that it will conduct a hearing at 10 a.m.
The meeting will be livestreamed on the House’s Facebook page.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the committee, said in a news forum on Saturday that the panel “is ready to hear the two issues, [to determine] sufficiency in form and sufficiency in substance of the two impeachment complaints.”
“We will anticipate the complainants’ laying down of what will be their bases in filing a complaint against President Marcos,” Ridon said.
An impeachment complaint against the president was filed last Jan. 19 by lawyer Andre de Jesus. It was endorsed by House Deputy Minority Leader and Pusong Pinoy Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay.
Another complaint was filed seven days later by a group that includes Bagong Alyansang Makabayan President Renato Reyes Jr., former lawmakers Liza Maza, Teodoro Casiño, and Neri Colmenares.
The second complaint was endorsed by the Makabayan bloc, composed of Kabataan Rep. Renee Co, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago, and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio.
Among the allegations in the complaint filed on Jan. 19 was that the president violated the Constitution and betrayed public trust “by surrendering” former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In March 2025, Duterte was brought to The Hague, Netherlands, after he was arrested in Manila on the strength of a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the deaths arising from the controversial drug war that was implemented during his presidency.
Ridon said that “what the Executive did was to implement a treaty between the Philippines and the Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization).”
“So I think there is no impeachable offense in such case,” he said. “It does not rise to [...] a culpable violation of the Constitution. It does not rise to a betrayal of public trust.”
The complaint filed on Jan. 26 was for alleged betrayal of public trust. It alleged that Marcos abused “discretionary power” over unprogrammed appropriations.
Ridon said that “unprogrammed appropriations had been in the budget since 1989.”
“I don’t think the Supreme Court had ever stated that this is an unconstitutional provision in the national budget,” he said.
He said the justice committee “will leave it to the complainants to make their case by next week.”
Under the Constitution, only the House can initiate impeachment cases, and the Senate has the sole power to try them.
“Impeachment is the sole prerogative of the legislature,” Ridon said.
He said, “The impeachment proceedings will always be based on facts; it will be based on evidence, and decisions relating to the impeachment will be based on the conscience of every House Member.”
House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos has been inhibited from the impeachment process against the president, his father.
Congressman Marcos is the House majority leader and chairs the Committee on Rules.
“My inhibition likewise extends to the Committee on Justice, where my role is limited to an ex officio capacity by virtue of my position as majority leader,” he said.
Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, the justice committee chairman, said the panel is looking at Feb. 2, 3, and 4 as dates for reviewing the impeachment complaints.
“If these hearing dates are still insufficient, we will be scheduling further dates on the succeeding week,” Luistro said.
The committee must submit a report with its corresponding resolution to the House plenary within 60 session days from referral.
The House then will calendar the resolution for consideration within 10 session days from receipt.
A vote of at least one-third of the House is needed to approve the articles of impeachment for it to be submitted to the Senate and for a trial to start.
