Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - The Supreme Court decision upholding the unconstitutionality of the lower chamber’s articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte has “no” effect on the ongoing impeachment proceedings against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville &quot;Jinky&quot; Luistro.</p><p>She said the High Court’s comments on the processes observed by the House of Representatives for Duterte’s impeachment last year were on a mode of impeachment different from the one used by the pending complaints against Marcos. </p><p>The Supreme Court, in its ruling, had said “due process” was not observed in the lower chamber’s impeachment process against the Vice President last February 5.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/29/supreme-court-affirms-sara-duterte-impeachment-unconstitutional-1427"><strong>Supreme Court affirms Sara Duterte impeachment unconstitutional </strong></a> </div><p>Luistro asserted that her committee’s initial deliberations on the two verified impeachment complaints against Marcos will proceed on February 2 as scheduled.</p><p>“I don&#x27;t see any reason why this proceeding before the Justice Committee will not proceed,” she said.</p><p>“The decision of the Supreme Court pertains to the rules on the second mode of filing an impeachment complaint, that is via one-third of all the members. While this impeachment complaints against the President was filed under the first mode, na ang complainant natin, private individual lang, endorsed by a House member,” Luistro explained. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>INIHIBITED</strong></div><p>Presidential son and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos has inhibited from the entire impeachment process involving his father, which includes the proceedings at the House Committee on Justice, where he is an ex-officio member. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/27/malacanang-sees-impeachment-complaints-vs-marcos-as-attack-vs-administration-1236"><strong>Malacañang sees impeachment complaints vs Marcos as ‘attack’ vs administration</strong></a></div><p>“The Committee on Justice shall discharge its mandate independently, in full accordance with the Constitution and the Rules of the House,” the younger Marcos assured the public.</p><p>The House Committee on Justice echoed this assurance, with members noting that they respect the Majority Leader’s move.</p><p>“We owe our faith and allegiance to the sovereign Filipino people. We do not owe it to the President, neither to the Vice President, nor to any impeachable official. And that calls for our utmost independence and impartiality in appreciating, assessing, and hearing this impeachment complaint. I am hoping and praying that all the individual members will be guided by this Constitutional mandate,” Luistro said.</p><p>“Well, I think a main ground rule naman po ay the House Committee on Justice will observe fairness and will of course observe ‘yun pong decorum na talagang befitting of an impeachment process. So ibig sabihin, we will afford each and every resource person, each and every complainant, each and every interested party the opportunity to prosecute their case before the House Committee on Justice,” Committee member and Bicol Saro Party List Representative Terry Ridon, for his part, said.</p><p>For now, Ridon has yet to see an article of impeachment against the President that is strong enough to hurdle the committee level.  The lawmaker explained that there is “nothing impeachable” about allowing unprogrammed appropriations and the implementation of an Interpol arrest warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p> “‘Yun pong bagay po na ‘yan ay bahagi po sa kapangyarihan ng ehekutibo. Ito pong pagpapatupad ng mga tratado involving Interpol. So I don&#x27;t think there is any impeachable offense there,” Ridon said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/26/2-verified-impeachment-complaints-against-marcos-jr-referred-to-house-committee-on-justice-1903"><strong>2 verified impeachment complaints against Marcos Jr. referred to House Committee on Justice </strong></a> </div><p>“Ang unprogrammed appropriations po had always been in the budget since 1989. Two years after the 1987 Constitution, three years after EDSA, walang patid na pagkakaroon po ng unprogrammed appropriations. So, ibig sabihin, it was not just the current President that approved unprogrammed appropriations. And clearly, parang wala naman sinasabi pa ho ang Korte Suprema na unconstitutional ang pagkakaroon ng unprogrammed appropriations per se,” he added.</p><p>For Luistro, it is too early to comment on the merits of the impeachment complaints against the President.</p><p>&quot;‘It&#x27;s too early to say because we have yet to start the proceeding before the Justice Committee. And in as far as I am concerned, as the Justice Chair, I really do not want to preempt the discussions, which will happen before the Justice Committee,” she said.</p><p>The Committee is still finalizing the rules for its impeachment proceedings, but Luistro said the panel will keep the traditional practice of allowing a member of the House Minority to throw the first set of questions, followed by a member of the House Majority. Each member will have a maximum of five minutes for their questions on the first round. If the time is not enough, they can sign up for the second round.</p>

<p>The SC decision upholding the unconstitutionality of the lower chamber’s articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte has “no” effect on the ongoing impeachment proceedings against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville Luistro.</p>

The SC decision upholding the unconstitutionality of the lower chamber’s articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte has “no” effect on the ongoing impeachment proceedings against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to House Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville Luistro.

SC ruling on VP impeachment 'no effect' on impeachment proceedings vs Marcos Jr.— Luistro

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SC ruling on VP impeachment 'no effect' on impeachment proceedings vs Marcos Jr.— Luistro

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 29, 2026 07:28 PM PHT

Read More:

Gerville Luistro

Terry Ridon

Impeachment

Sara Duterte

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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