Camille Naredo

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presides over a meeting at Malacañan Palace on the preparations for the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 Chairship, where key agencies presented updates on priority plans on February 2, 2026. Presidential Communications Office

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presides over a meeting at Malacañan Palace on the preparations for the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 Chairship, where key agencies presented updates on priority plans on February 2, 2026. Discussions focused on concrete deliverables that create jobs, support small businesses, improve digital services, and strengthen people-centered programs, ensuring an ASEAN Chairship that delivers clear benefits to Filipinos and the region.  Presidential Communications Office

Article (news)

MARCOS

ABS-CBN News

Agatha Gregorio

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177020410344120260202-marcos-asean-preparatory-meeting-PCO5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presides over a meeting at Malacañan Palace on the preparations for the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 Chairship, where key agencies presented updates on priority plans on February 2, 2026. Presidential Communications Office" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presides over a meeting at Malacañan Palace on the preparations for the Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 Chairship, where key agencies presented updates on priority plans on February 2, 2026. <em>Presidential Communications Office</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Some House lawmakers are defending the impeachment proceedings against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying these were not railroaded after the House Committee on Justice on Wednesday declared the impeachment complaints insufficient in substance.</p><p>According to San Juan Lone District Representative Ysabel Zamora, they went through all of the charges in the complaints one by one even if in previous impeachment proceedings in Congress, there was one deliberation without discussion of each offense separately.</p><p>“We went through each of the charges in both of the complaints. Inisa-isa po namin ‘yan. Whereas, in fact, in previous impeachment complaints, in previous impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives in other terms, ang ginagawa po nila, one whole discussion, one deliberation without discussing each offense separately,” Zamora said during a press conference on Wednesday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/4/house-panel-says-marcos-impeachment-complaints-insufficient-in-substance-1507">House panel: Two Marcos impeachment complaints insufficient in substance</a></div><p>Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon also brought up how the House panel found the complaints sufficient in form.</p><p>“Pinalusot po ng kumite through form ito pong bagay na ito. But naglinaw under substance na hindi ho talaga ubra na talaga hong walang nasumiteng mga authentic documents at nakabatay lang po sa news reports… If we had wanted to stop in the soonest opportunity, we could have done it at the level of form… We have proceeded through form and we have proceeded through substance. So hindi po totoo that there was a railroading of the proceedings,” Ridon said.</p><p>According to House Committee on Justice Chairperson Representative Gerville Luistro, she cannot say the impeachment complaints against Marcos are dead because the committee report could still be reversed in plenary by at least one-third of all members.</p><div> </div><div><strong>‘LAWMAKERS ROLE IS NOT TO LAWYER FOR PRESIDENT’</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, congressmen such as ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio expressed dismay over the result of the House panel’s meeting on Wednesday.</p><p>Tinio stressed it is not the role of members of the House Committee on Justice to act as a lawyer for the president, saying they supposedly judged evidence already.</p><p> “Hindi raw impeachable ang mga offense na nasa complaint. Hindi po ‘yun ang tungkulin ng mga kinatawan ng Justice Committee. Hindi nila tungkulin na mag-abogado para sa Presidente. Ngunit ‘yun na po ang nangyayari dahil hinuhusgahan na nila ang ebidensya. Hindi pa po ‘yan ang yugto ngayon,” Tinio told the media following the House panel hearing.</p><p>Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua, meanwhile, argued that what was seen from congressmen was not “lawyering” as they were simply giving their opinions.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/2/house-begins-tackling-marcos-impeachment-complaints-1019">House panel finds Marcos impeachment complaints &#x27;sufficient in form&#x27;</a></div><p>“Ang kanina, hindi naman pag-aabogado sa presidente. Bagkus pagbibigay ng opinyon ng bawat isa. So hindi mo naman maaalis sa mga abogado na mambabatas na ipaliwanag kung papaano tingnan ‘yung mga pagtanggap ng ebidensya,” Chua said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>ON STATEMENTS BY ZALDY CO VS. MARCOS</strong> </div><p>When asked about how the committee may have been able to speak to former congressman Zaldy Co about his accusations against Marcos had proceedings moved forward, Zamora said they cannot accept “mere conclusions” as the videos posted by Co were not authenticated.</p><p>“We do not consider that video as an authentic document. First, there was no attestation or authentication by Mr. Zaldy Co. So how can we rely on that? We should remember that the allegations written in a complaint are not facts or are not the overt acts that we are expecting to be written in an impeachment complaint. Kailangan po ‘yung ginawa mismo nung impeachable official, maico-connect natin sa isang violation ng constitution or other impeachable offenses,” Zamora added when asked about Co’s statements in relation to the president.</p><p>For Bukidnon 2nd District Representative Jonathan Keith Flores, voting for sufficiency and substance based on the ground connected to Co may “open the floodgates” for anyone to post videos against impeachable officers</p><p>“Alam mo, tama yung sinasabi niya na ‘yun na part ng complaint ng Maza et al– that was the strongest sana. Kung andito lang din si Zaldy Co sana to support or any supporting affidavit that will be executed by him. In fact, I even told the chairman na I might vote for sufficiency and substance as far as this ground is particularly concerned. Kasi may recital of facts din naman. But if you allow it, it will open the floodgates of anyone outside who will just post a video against any impeachable officer. Basta may recital of facts lang na puwede nang maging impeachable ground kahit hindi under oath. So mahirap din ‘yun,” Flores said.</p>

<p>Some House lawmakers are defending the impeachment proceedings against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying these were not railroaded after the House Committee on Justice declared the impeachment complaints insufficient in substance.</p>

Some House lawmakers are defending the impeachment proceedings against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying these were not railroaded after the House Committee on Justice declared the impeachment complaints insufficient in substance.

‘Not railroaded’: Congressmen defend impeachment proceedings vs. Marcos

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‘Not railroaded’: Congressmen defend impeachment proceedings vs. Marcos

ABS-CBN News,

Agatha Gregorio

Published February 04, 2026 07:42 PM PHT

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Updated February 05, 2026 11:23 AM PHT

Read More:

Impeachment

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

House of Representatives

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